GURGAON: Traffic police in the city have decided to not issue challans at night barring exceptional situations. The cops, however, will continue their drive against drunk driving.
The move, police said, followed a number of complaints against arbitrary checking of vehicles, causing “harassment” to commuters at night.
A letter issued by DCP (traffic) Virender Vij to all officers in the city specified that if cops on night patrol must issue challans under the Motor Vehicles Act, they should first consult their seniors.
The primary duty of traffic police at night is to maintain law and order, check drunk driving, help accident victims reach hospitals and people who have lost their way, Vij said.
“It has come to my notice that vehicles are being stopped at night and issued challans, which causes harassment to commuters,” read the letter issued by him on May 28.
Speaking to TOI on Friday, the DCP said there would be no let-up in the police’s drive against drunk driving, especially in areas around malls and restobars.
“This is a general order for the convenience of people. We will continue to issue challans for drunk driving, which happens mainly at night. But no other challan for traffic violations, which is issued during the day, will be slapped unless absolutely necessary,” said Vij. “Driving a vehicle under the influence of alcohol can be dangerous not only for the person behind the wheel but others on the road as well,” he added.
In the first five months of this year, a total of 6,500 challans were issued to violators in the city for drunk driving. Many vehicles were impounded too.
But for other violations, the approval of seniors is a must. “All traffic inspectors and zonal officers have been instructed to ask their teams to not stop any vehicle just for issuing challans. If the situation warrants so, they must take permission first,” the senior officer added.
Any cop who does not follow the directive will face action, Vij warned.
“This order should be followed strictly. In case of negligence or carelessness, strict departmental action will be taken against the policeman concerned,” he said.
The order, however, did not specify any time window for the force.
Commuters, especially those who return home from work late at night, heaved a sigh of relief.
“Reaching home safely is important. Many of us return from work late at night. We also go out for dinner or late-night movie shows. No one wants to be stopped in the middle of the road at night,” said Meenakshi Sharma, a resident of Sector 7.
Hemant Mishra of Sector 48, however, raised a cause for concern. “Speeding and wrong-side driving are common at night. If such drivers know they won’t be challaned, they will break the rule with impunity. Police should take note of this. They should continue to fine them under exceptional circumstances,” he added.
The move, police said, followed a number of complaints against arbitrary checking of vehicles, causing “harassment” to commuters at night.
A letter issued by DCP (traffic) Virender Vij to all officers in the city specified that if cops on night patrol must issue challans under the Motor Vehicles Act, they should first consult their seniors.
The primary duty of traffic police at night is to maintain law and order, check drunk driving, help accident victims reach hospitals and people who have lost their way, Vij said.
“It has come to my notice that vehicles are being stopped at night and issued challans, which causes harassment to commuters,” read the letter issued by him on May 28.
Speaking to TOI on Friday, the DCP said there would be no let-up in the police’s drive against drunk driving, especially in areas around malls and restobars.
“This is a general order for the convenience of people. We will continue to issue challans for drunk driving, which happens mainly at night. But no other challan for traffic violations, which is issued during the day, will be slapped unless absolutely necessary,” said Vij. “Driving a vehicle under the influence of alcohol can be dangerous not only for the person behind the wheel but others on the road as well,” he added.
In the first five months of this year, a total of 6,500 challans were issued to violators in the city for drunk driving. Many vehicles were impounded too.
But for other violations, the approval of seniors is a must. “All traffic inspectors and zonal officers have been instructed to ask their teams to not stop any vehicle just for issuing challans. If the situation warrants so, they must take permission first,” the senior officer added.
Any cop who does not follow the directive will face action, Vij warned.
“This order should be followed strictly. In case of negligence or carelessness, strict departmental action will be taken against the policeman concerned,” he said.
The order, however, did not specify any time window for the force.
Commuters, especially those who return home from work late at night, heaved a sigh of relief.
“Reaching home safely is important. Many of us return from work late at night. We also go out for dinner or late-night movie shows. No one wants to be stopped in the middle of the road at night,” said Meenakshi Sharma, a resident of Sector 7.
Hemant Mishra of Sector 48, however, raised a cause for concern. “Speeding and wrong-side driving are common at night. If such drivers know they won’t be challaned, they will break the rule with impunity. Police should take note of this. They should continue to fine them under exceptional circumstances,” he added.