Jamshedpur Police on alert in view of Valentine’s Day Week, special drive launched 

Jamshedpur,Feb 6: East Singhbhum district traffic police today revved up vigil on errant bikers by slapping on-the-spot fines between Rs Rs 500 to 1000, depending on the nature of violations at different strategic locations across the city.

The drive was carried out keeping in view Valentine’s Day . Often ruffians and other youngsters  break road-rules and resort to eve-teasing on that day. Bikers without helmets and triple riding were the target of traffic cops. The drive was simultaneously carried out at six strategic

 locations — Jubilee Park ( both at the in and out gate), Mango chowk, near Jugsalai police station, near Tata Pigments gate on Bistupur-Station Road  and at Golmuri roundabout from 9.30 am onwards.

Those individuals not wearing helmets and triple riders were fined Rs 500 each, others without driving licence got a Rs 1000 rap. These slabs are part of the motor vehicles inspection rules.

An official said that a spot fine was charged from around 200 individuals for violation of traffic norms. ” Those carrying a helmet and not wearing it were also asked to pay a spot fine. We had also deployed lady constables at a few places like Bistupur to catch women riders violating traffic rules,” said the official, adding that today’s drive was carried out especially because of Valentine’s Day Week starting from tomorrow.

Sources in the traffic department said that the drive was carried out following a  directive of senior superintendent of police M Tamil Vanan to keep those with a penchant for rash driving on a tight leash. A source said that about  Rs 50,000 was collected through spot fine today.

“Our objective is not to charge fines to fill up state coffers, but to make fines a deterrent to rash driving and other traffic violations. We want to drive home the virtues of safe riding so that youngsters don’t put themselves and others at risk on the road. I have directed officials at all the checking points  to give priority to this exercise ,” he said

According to officials, the drive would continue during the week. He added that the move would bring about a visible change in youngsters, who would learn to develop safe riding habits to avoid paying a cash penalty.

Traffic officials, on the other hand, have been asked to exercise restraint if bikers give genuine reasons for violating rules.

For instance, a traffic cop at Mango chowk said they were lenient on bikers with valid reasons for riding without helmets.

 “I did not fine a biker without helmet, who was on way to the burning ghat in Sakchi to  attend a funeral ceremony,” he said.