Team Herald
PANJIM: A day after Chief Minister Pramod Sawant announced that only police inspectors (PIs) and police sub-inspectors (PSIs) with body cameras have been authorised to issue challans for traffic violations, O Heraldo’s search for cops with body cameras proved to be futile. Indeed, there were fewer policemen than usual on the roads in some areas, including Mapusa and Porvorim.
A police officer in Panjim said, “The traffic police cells have been informed not to physically stop vehicles found violating motor vehicle rules, but to capture the violators through cameras and generate challans. The constables, head constables and Assistant Sub-Inspectors (ASIs) standing at road junctions or at other places will not stop those breaking traffic rules, but they will capture the violators on their cameras. A challan, which will be generated, will be sent to the registered mobile number of the violator, who will have to make digital payments since the government has now done away with cash payments.”
This begs the question: since no cops were wearing body cameras, and no vehicles were to be stopped as per instructions, did motorists have a free-for-all on Goa’s roads on Saturday?
The officer added, “Only PIs will have body cameras during the day and PSIs with body cameras during the night have been authorised to stop vehicles found violating traffic rules.” There are 16 traffic police cells and 32 police stations across the State while the department has 123 body cameras.
Also there are CCTV cameras installed at strategic locations to crack down on violators.
As per the amended Motor Vehicles Act, hefty fines have been proposed for some violations. The highest fine of Rs 10,000 each is for those driving without a valid driving licence, using a vehicle without permit and driving under the influence of alcohol.
If a rider is caught riding a two-wheeler without a helmet, he/she will be issued a e-challan of Rs 1,000 for the first offence and for the repeat offence, a fine of Rs 10,000 will be levied along with three months suspension of the licence.
Similar is the penalty for the violator caught for overspeeding.
If a rider is caught riding a two-wheeler with triple-seat or caught speaking on mobile phone while driving, then he/she will be imposed a fine of Rs 1,000 and the licence will be suspended for three months. The fine amount for driving without wearing a seat belt is also fixed at Rs 1,000 each and Rs 1,500 for the subsequent violation.