The photo challan system introduced in Coimbatore city earlier this year has helped the traffic police reduce traffic violations to an extend. Inspired from its success, the police in association with ‘Uyir’ accident-free Coimbatore initiative will soon launch a smartphone application named ‘Police E-Eye’ where even public can report traffic violations to the police.
As on Wednesday, the traffic police issued 949 photo challans to motorists for various traffic violations and collected ₹4.68 lakh as fine. While 829 photo challans were issued in Traffic West limits where the system was introduced first, 120 were issued in Traffic East limits.
While the system was introduced when K. Periaiah was the City Police Commissioner, present Commissioner Sumit Sharan and Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Sujit Kumar have instructed personnel to use photo challans more to crack down on traffic violations.
A photo challan, unlike the challans issued by the police for traffic violations, will have a photo of the violation involved. Hence, there will be no room left for the offender to deny the violation.
“The police clicks photos of the vehicle involved in the traffic violation which will be printed in the challan. An internal WhatsApp group has been created where all police personnel can share the photos of violations. The challan is served to the violator in person. A receipt will be given for the fine amount collected,” said Raj Khanna, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Traffic West.
The system is convenient to the police as they can trace the ownership of the vehicle involved in the traffic violation using the access provided to the police to a data portal of the Ministry of Home Affairs. The ownership is traced by searching the registration number.
Most of the photo challans issued are for illegal parking, creating obstruction on busy stretches, riding two-wheeler without wearing helmet, triple riding, riding through wrong side and jumping signals.