Team Herald
PONDA: Confusion prevailed, on Sunday, in Ponda market over Traffic Police issuing two fines within seven minutes for the same violation.
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A local was issued a challan for not wearing a helmet at 10.40 am and again at 10.47 am. This became a hot topic in the whole of Ponda town on Easter.
Subash Cuttikar, a Ponda local, paid Rs 100 fine for a challan issued by the Traffic Police for not wearing a helmet at 10.40 am. He was stopped again seven minutes later by a different team of police and issued another challan for the same violation.
In his defence, Cuttikar produced the previous challan and the receipt he paid for not wearing a helmet. The Traffic Police, however, was in no mood to listen to Cuttikar’s explanation and snatched the ignition key from his scooter.
Despite producing his licence and showing him the receipt, the Traffic Police ASI refusing to budge down, issued Cuttikar a second challan. Despite arguing and explaining for over an hour and a half that a challan cannot be given twice within 24 hours for the same offence, Cuttikar could not convince the cop otherwise.
Cuttikar finally got back his keys only when he opened his purse and parted with another Rs 100 which the cop accepted with a smile perhaps knowing fully in his mind that he had ‘cheated’ his way for another fine.
PSI Nilesh Gaude was firm with his decision and even told the media that police can issue as many fines for the same offence and that there was no limit on it.
Subash said he had come to the market to buy medicine for his child with Rs 200 in his pocket. However, he had to return home as he had no money left to buy the medicine.
