[TusharK]

Violating traffic laws in Bangalore could get you in some serious trouble, as the police have now decided to take a tougher stance on traffic violations.



The Bangalore traffic police plan to book violators under a more stringent IPC section. They will be targeting three major offences - driving or riding against the flow of traffic, riding on the footpath and wrongful parking.

According to a media report, violators will be booked under Section 283 of the IPC, which deals with danger or obstruction in a public way or line of navigation. It has a provision for the cops to seize the vehicle, which can only be released through a court.

Since January, the police have registered 4,200 cases under this section. It is said that impounding the vehicle and having to appear in court to secure its release serves as a better deterrent than a fine.

Source: HT

Link to Team-BHP News

[ashwinds]

Can only imagine the desperation that this causes to avoid a ticket by all means possible. And the load on the courts!

[SedateGuy]

Originally Posted by ashwinds

Can only imagine the desperation that this causes to avoid a ticket by all means possible. And the load on the courts!

Don't have to get desperate to avoid a ticket. You just have to follow the law. The rules that need to be broken under this law are easily followable and 2 wheelers seen to be the main target.

[ashwinds]

That's idealistic and presumes fair law enforcement.

Once, a few years back, I was following a public transport bus taking a left turn. Was stopped by a cop on completion of the turn.

He said the signal flipped to red and I had jumped signal. My fault entirely of course because I followed the bus and I had no knowledge of the signal. I asked if I cant be excused because I was blinded by the bus. The cop said: I can book you for stop line violation OR dangerous driving. The choice is mine. You can protest either but what gets booked is my choice. So be glad I am booking you for the smaller offence.

Now, the stakes just got higher and we have to hope against hope that fair enforcement will exist.

[swiftnfurious]

Well, am happy for these as these are some of the most irritating things I see in Bangalore. However, to impound and keep a vehicle in the custody seems a difficult task considering the lack of space the stations will have.

[paragsachania]

If cops seriously consider this measure, it will also solve Bangalore's traffic woes due to less 2 wheelers on road as a lot of 2 wheelers will be impounded for driving against the flow of traffic .

This is something that has reached to an insane level in Bangalore now that I have no words to describe.

[epiccross]

Would it actually be enforced properly and justly or would it be just about lining the pockets of the cops?

[frewper]

Making sure that when issuing a license, strict measures are taken that the person "knows" the law, knows why he should not drive on the footpath, consequences of driving dangerously and passing a proper driving test, are also great ways of making sure that rules are followed.

Our administration seem to be more reactive than proactive in most cases.

[anjan_c2007]

The section is bailable and a Magistrate is empowered to give bail to the errant driver.

The fine is only Rs 200/-. Unlike the Motor Vehicles Act offences, wherein fines have been hiked by multiple times the IPC fines are yet to be enhanced.

I am unable to corroborate the assertion of the Bengaluru police who say the vehicle can be seized under this section. They may coolly seize the erring vehicles but if someone moves the High Court challenging the seizure u/s 283 and demanding compensation, maybe it will be tough for the police to fight back.

IPC Section 283:Danger or obstruction in public way or line of navigation
Whoever, by doing any act, or by omitting to take order with any property in his possession or under his charge, causes danger, obstruction or injury to any person in any public way or public line of navigation, shall be punished, with fine which may extend to two hundred rupees.

Section 279 of the IPC is also bailable but has a component to imprison the errant driver for upto six months.

Section 279 of the IPC deals with the offence of rash driving or riding on a public way. According to this section, the minimum punishment for committing such an offence is a fine that is less than one thousand rupees, or imprisonment that is less than six months.

The corrupt cops could enhance their demand for bribes to let go the offender. They are armed with the IPC provision too.

[GrammarNazi]

I'm guessing this is very very hard to implement because Bangalore traffic police will run out of parking space very soon (given how many they can easily catch in a day). They will need to try prioritising based on the location of violation (like say a school zone) & vehicle.

Apart from all the allegations of certain secon of police misusing the laws to extort through false cases.

Anyway, hope there's a strong public outreach program run parallel to these things. Only then will a few people who care even realise how these dangerous stunts must be avoided.

[binand]

Originally Posted by anjan_c2007

The section is bailable and a Magistrate is empowered to give bail to the errant driver.

I suppose the main deterrent of IPC is that a criminal record is created. I'm not sure how charges under these minor sections play out, but I imagine any background check in the future will always throw up this charge and the fact that you are out on bail.

Originally Posted by anjan_c2007

I am unable to corroborate the assertion of the Bengaluru police who say the vehicle can be seized under this section.

Probably the reporter got it wrong. IPC only defines what the crimes & punishments are. The powers of the police are defined in the state-specific Police Act. There will be something in the Karnataka Police Act that gives the cops the power to seize/remove vehicles that are causing traffic obstruction.

[SmartCat]

Article says only 3 offences will be covered under this -

driving or riding against the flow of traffic, riding on the footpath and wrongful parking

The last one (wrongful parking) is a bit iffy and can be exploited by cops.

Anyway, stringent laws are fine but a case should be admissible in court ONLY if the cops produce video/CCTV/photographic evidence of the violation.

[lemedico]

Would love to see this implementation in UP as well. Traffic sense (non) is incredibly scarce in my bit of town!

[audioholic]

Originally Posted by epiccross

Would it actually be enforced properly and justly or would it be just about lining the pockets of the cops?

Right now I don't care if police fill their pockets or anyone else's. If they can curb down the pathetic amount of wrong side violations and footpath riding that's going to make life a lot better for the average pedestrian or people who drive giving regard to rules. These are obvious offences when caught, unlike signal jumping and if someone is on the wrong side of the road, there is no justification to it and no arguments of signal light being orange when I passed the stop line or no stop line and so. Hence, while I am not in favor of police collecting bribes, this wrong side driving menace has to be tackled strictly and I am not bothered who gets richer.

[hrman]

Originally Posted by TusharK

Violating traffic laws in Bangalore could get you in some serious trouble, as the police have now decided to take a tougher stance on traffic violations.

The Bangalore traffic police plan to book violators under a more stringent IPC section. They will be targeting three major offences - driving or riding against the flow of traffic, riding on the footpath and wrongful parking.

Link to Team-BHP News

I think this is a much needed. Have faced so so many instances of wrong side driving by two wheelers. I have on a couple of occasions just stood my ground in my car when I was driving on the right side and I found the violator opposite me trying to squeeze past me. They had to go around me and meet the higher flow of traffic. But the look on their face is so irksome. They feel I am erring by not letting them commit the crime and mumble while passing me.

I will install a dashcam and report all such cases with time and date. At least the BTPs revenue will increase, though I may not be able to change the world.