[anjan_c2007]

I have reported quite a few parking and traffic rule violations to the local traffic police on their WhatsApp number. They were prompt and within a few hours also reverted back with the challan issued to the erring car owner. This was when the fines were meagre before the very recent enhancement. Such a job to alleviate public nuisance by the members of public is OK.

But the authorities paying money to the person reporting the traffic violation is creating a new power centre of paid whistleblowers, some of whom could be goons and that could also be someone who is not answerable. By this I mean that if A clicks pictures of traffic violations by X, Y and Z, A could demand gratification from X, Y or Z to delete the picture/s of his car. There could be some blackmailing too in such cases by those goons who turn paid whistleblowers. Traffic cops accepting bribes can be caught and suspended or dismissed but such goons who turn paid whistleblowers engaging in criminal acts will arm twist motorists, who break traffic laws.

Such goons and paid whistleblowers are best avoided by not at all introducing such schemes.

[One]

Not to put any dampener in this conversation as there are some very interesting comments here, but the minister was clearly joking incase anyone sees the video. It is towards 33 minutes though the entire video is interesting

https://youtu.be/eafdGjPAV7o

[needmorebhp]

What govt won't do: Build parking spaces, improve public transport to reduce need for private vehicle trips and hence parking space.

What govt wants to do: Turn people against each other as an indirect money extortion scheme.

[msdivy]

Few thoughts:
* Identifying violation is not the challenge. A cop standing at a junction can easily spot 10 violations per minute. Knowing the problem doesn't give the solution. The challenge is how to enforce discipline on roads. This, no police in India have been to solve.

* On parking: The local corporation has to clearly mark parking & non-parking. They have to ensure sufficient parking. It is not good city planning if there are 20 spots and 100 cars. Only after providing parking spots, they can start fining for no parking.

[Mustang Sammy]

Originally Posted by raksrules

While we are at this, I would also love if in Mumbai they bring such reward system to spot bikers without helmets (and pillion too), to click photo and get reward. I will become millionaire if this happens.

A rider not wearing a helmet is only putting themselves at risk. It is not up to us to decide for them.
On the other hand, rash driving and illegal parking puts other people in harm’s way. Different calculus in my opinion.

[anish]

As per me this is something that Govt should have initiated long back. Lack of parking spaces doesn’t justify wrong parking at all. Where do you draw the line, if I don’t have a parking space at home can I park my car on the main road or only on the side roads ? How does one know that the car parked illegally on the road isn’t the 4th car of the household ?
Two wrongs don’t make a right.

Of all the concerns expressed around who reported first, whether the image is morphed, identity of the complainant etc can be easily figured out through tech.

In NewYork people get paid 25% of the fine for reporting idling trucks (>3 minutes ) in the city . There’s a hefty fine of 350$ and anyone can record the idling trucks and share it with the authorities. And people reporting it do getting assaulted at times. It’s bit tricky that ways - https://www.cnbc.com/2022/03/31/make...york-city.html

But government needs to think through, implement a good solution, pilot it in a city or two for few months and then roll out pan India

[itsbaman]

I want to use this scheme in the Kasol Manali Kullu region and I can do this without any reward. Sick of long traffic jams due to idiots who think they own the road for parking. Just protect the identity of the complainant.

[DrCar]

The scheme shows that the government doesn't trust their own professional police, rto & other agencies; and wiling to take help from us citizens for disciplining others. Hence proven, who is more trustworthy.

Irony is the fact that yesterday itself I had an accidental fall from my bike because of a poorly covered pothole with a sand debri. What I got in return? A bruised leg, a crepe bandage and a photograph (not of my illegally parked bike in the corner of the street where I fell down but of my hand).

Sarcasm aside. This scheme won't work unless the basic law of rash driving, wrong side driving, etc. is taken care of first. No one is talking about unscientific speedpbreakers, poorly built roads, multiple potholes, etc. which needs immediate attention.

Practice before you preach should be the mantra.

[cdrajeevkumar]

This was apparently in jest by our honorable minister Shri Gadkari. He has a knack of delivering such anecdotes time and again ! Recently he promised a minister 1000 Cr (INR) for every Kg he reduced in weight! The minister was elated and was scheduled to meet Shri Gadkari to claim 6000Cr (INR) as he had lost 6 Kgs!

Time to take this with a pinch of salt?

[macbeth]

Multiple issues that I see with this:
1. Privacy of the person logging the complaint (less said the better about Privacy in our country)
2. Lack of adequate parking lots close to main business areas (shopping or offices)
3. Every citizen trying to act like a cop (who will check the authenticity of the complaint). I have been fined for 'disobedience of police' by a cop for asking a question on why I was being fined as i was confused about a signal - topic for another thread.
4. What stops one to use a fake number plate (just increases the number of such instances compared to what it is today)

Not a well thought out idea I'd say

[Amrik Singh]

Does the scheme includes reporting of hundreds of Cars parked on streets for months and years without moving ?
Probably, the Cars need extensive and costly repairs and the owners neither want to spend on the Car, nor could find buyers have abandoned them on the Streets.

[Sebring]

Citizens clicking pics and submitting can be dangerous in the hands of few anti-social elements. One Day I had dropped my mom off at the medical store, and was sitting in the car waiting for her to return, when a dude is coming on the wrong side of the road on his two wheeler. He wants me to make way so he can continue along the way. I refused to budge since it was my right of way, and I was in the clear. Infuriated at this, he got into an argument with me in Kannada, clicked pics of my car and threatened to post it to the Police Dept. calling for a fine. I have not checked the status of that report or if he ever uploaded it but I felt vulnerable to blackmail, that day.

[PrideRed]

If I recall BTP(Bangalore Traffic police) announced something similar but never took off. A well put across system may help but knowing how system works, I would be really surprised if even individual gets paid!

[Durango Dude]

Friends, Indians and country men, I'm here to spy on you on behalf of the Gumment. Being Indians this isn't anything new, is it! We have been doing this for centuries: no wonder we were subjugated by all riff raff. This also happens in the corporate workplace also so why not in the "national interest". Even the Govt and whole world knows how "united" we're!

[Dieseltuned]

In a country like India "MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS".

If you want to do good for the society do it via a charity or self help group , if you cant donate money donate your time and volunteer for work like teaching school kids, feeding people, etc. BUT never ever get involved in such schemes of reporting illegal acts by others.