There is a peculiar practice going in the Panjim city limits. There is a pickup van, in which there are three–four persons. They sport some pink jackets, and there are wheel-locking devices inside the van.
These ‘traffic’ personnel scout the traffic jungle in the city and lock the wheels of motor vehicles that have been supposedly parked on the non-parking places. After locking they wait for the victim to return, like tigers wait for the prey. They ‘collect’ the fines from the alleged offender. The fee could be anything up to Rs 400.
The common man is under the impression that there is a Motor Vehicle Act (a Central Legislation) and state governments have adopted this Act and formulated rules under the Act. The act stipulates the competent authority to enforce the Motor Vehicle Act. Therefore in each state there is the Regional Transport Authority and the Traffic Police Cell, which enforce the traffic rules and impose minor penalties on those who violate the traffic rules. The major offences are dealt by the courts.
The Traffic police or RTO personnel in uniform can challan a person for violating traffic rules and collect fines issuing official receipts or haul the person before the district magistrate. That a municipality is allowed to enforce traffic rules and the persons who do not hold any position in the Transport authority are allowed to punish motor vehicle owners is a new development.
If the CCP (Corporation of the City of Panjim) is allowed to administer Motor Vehicle Act then all local bodies down to the village Panchayat would be the competent authority under the Motor Vehicle Act in Goa. The traffic police then take rest and relax. And the RTO officials are generally in their offices.
