THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The State Police Chief has asked all traffic enforcement officials to go the digital way to detect and book offenders. In a circular, DGP Jacob Punnoose has asked the officials to resort to digital means as far as possible. Equipment like digital camera, traffic surveillance camera, mobile phone camera, hand-held camera, alcometer, speed radars etc which could provide sufficient proof will be useful to serve notices and fine the offenders. It will also avoid officials entering into unnecessary arguments with vehicle drivers.
The e-challan system currently being successfully run in Thiruvananthapuram will be extended to other cities. The system enables payment of compounding fee at banks without coming to the police stations.
Pedestrian Safety
The SPs and CPs have also been directed to reward officials making effective use of digital equipment.
Any vehicle found parked on footpaths can be charge-sheeted after digitally recording the offence. Obstructions such as piling of road construction material, sand, pipes, merchandise, timber or any such item can be prevented and the offenders punished by taking digital photographs of obstructions.
Vehicle-checking
The circular has also asked the officials not to chase a two-wheeler rider for booking him for not wearing a helmet. The other directions are:
Only one vehicle shall be stopped for checking at a time.
After the vehicle is stopped, the driver shall not be asked to get down from the vehicle, unless such action is necessary to detain or arrest him.
No driver should be asked to get down from the driver’s seat and come with record to an officer.
As far as possible, only those vehicles found violating any law should be stopped. The detection of the offence should preferably be by observing the vehicle and driver in motion and not by checking the records after getting the vehicle stopped to examine whether there is an violation.
Violations related to helmet-wearing should be regularly and continuously done in every district at pre-announced and pre-earmarked points. The points should be specially chosen and located at different places to cover all major routes. The objective is not to catch people by surprise, but to educate them on safety habits by proper enforcement.