Ensure marshals collecting fines know new rules

Photo for representational purpose

In a fresh set of guidelines issued by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) recently, people will no longer be fined for not wearing masks inside private vehicles.

In a directive issued by the BMC, all clean-up marshals were asked to exempt people in personal vehicles from the no-mask fine, priced at Rs 200. This relaxation has not been extended to people travelling in public transport including taxis, rickshaws, buses and trains. Fines will also be imposed on people without face masks in other public places, stated the BMC.

The BMC had earlier set a Rs 1,000 fine on people for spitting and not wearing a mask in public places, in April last year.
Then in September, this was brought down to Rs 200 after complaints that the fine was too high. Once more, the relaxation for private vehicles has come after a complaint.

This newspaper has emphasised that our response to the pandemic must evolve as the outbreak takes many twists and turns.

This is one more relaxation but do remember that it comes with the warning that this is not applicable inside public transport. There has to be absolute clarity about that. Signage at bus stops saying ‘no masks, no entry' is good as it leaves the commuter in no doubt.

Marshals deployed across the city, need to be apprised of this new rule so that they exercise their power in accordance with guidelines. Outside the pandemic context, we have had examples and legitimate complaints about marshals arm-twisting people and collecting exorbitant and illegal fines. There was also a phrase coined for these, ‘marshal menace', and the more ominous, ‘marshal terror'.

Absolute clarity on the part of both, commuter and most importantly, the marshals, is needed when we have any kind of relaxation, or even tightening of rules.