12 bikers booked for riding drunk on dry day in Mumbai

Dozen Mumbaikars caught by Mumbai traffic police on Sunday, which was a dry day owing to Gandhi Jayanti, for driving under the influence of alcohol

Traffic police check if riders have been drinking, at Juhu, last night. PIC/PRADEEP DHIVAR

A dozen people were caught by the Mumbai traffic police on Sunday, which was a dry day owing to Gandhi Jayanti, for driving under the influence of alcohol. The traffic police had conducted a routine drink driving campaign that began around 10pm on Sunday and went on till 3am on Monday. The campaign was conducted in all 34 divisions of the traffic police, and the officers on duty focused mainly on bikers.

A traffic police officer from the Juhu traffic police division said, "We have charged two bikers in separate cases for riding drunk. They were going from Juhu towards Santacruz and. When we asked them about drinking on a dry day, one said he was coming from a friend's house where there was old stock of alcohol and the other said he was coming from a relative's birthday party at home."

As per records with the Mumbai traffic police, while conducting the drive, 12 cases came to light within a few hours. The drive was conducted at regular spots in all divisions of the traffic police. The major nakabandi spots were Marine Drive, Juhu, Andheri and Worli.

Another traffic police officer from south Mumbai said, "We also stopped and fined those riding without helmets, and motorists driving without seatbelts. Our method for checking drink driving is the traditional one, where we ask the driver for his name and where is he coming from or going to. The smell of liquor can be detected easily like this and further action is taken accordingly."