Traffic offenders toe the line after court issues summons

All the motorists who refused to pay fine despite being served with e-challans are now queuing up outside the CCTV command centre of the traffic police department in Belapur to pay up.

As soon as motorists break traffic norms, a notice is sent to their residential address. The fine can be paid at the traffic offices in the city or via the traffic police's website

The reason for the urgency exhibited by the offenders was the summons issued to them by a Belapur court. Officials at the command centre revealed that 52 offenders were issued summons after they failed to comply with the e-challans issued to them by the traffic police department.

Hemant Suryavanshi, in charge of the command centre, said, "Out of a total 200 motorists booked from August to November, 52 did not pay their fines. The department had given them more than a fortnight, but they failed to do the needful."

ACP P P Kannalu from the wireless department said, "Now that the court has issued notifications to the offenders, they have no other option but to abide by the law." Of the 52 defaulters, a majority have been booked for not wearing seat belt or helmet, sporting fancy number plates, talking on mobile while driving or jumping signals.

Moreover, the number of offenders who own a four-wheeler is more in comparison to those riding two-wheelers. Of the 200 offenders, 20 per cent are women, the officials said. E-challans were introduced to keep tab on those violating traffic rules.

The initiative was started in Navi Mumbai on August 1. As soon as motorists break traffic norms, a notice is sent to their registered residential address. Thereafter, people can either pay fine at respective traffic offices in the city or make the payment on the traffic police's website.