Pay higher fines if you continue to ride helmetless

PANAJI: If you have already been fined for not wearing a helmet but continue to ride without one, beware. Director general of police (DGP) Muktesh Chander on Tuesday said he would raise the fine for repeat offenders.

“I will raise the prosecution amount if riders are found travelling helmetless a second time. We will maintain the entire prosecution history of such riders and will keep enhancing penalties for every repeat offence,” Chander said during a function marking Road Safety Week in the city. “Based on prosecution history, we might even recommend that the transport department cancel driving licences of such offenders.”

A proposal seeking the suspension of licences of those involved in fatal accidents is likely to be sent to the transport department. Reacting to public criticism that only two-wheeler users are targeted by the police, the DGP said two-wheelers constitute 70% of the state’s vehicular traffic and as such, would be liable for 70% prosecution.

Chander also lashed out at detractors of the Traffic Sentinel Scheme . “In 2017, over 5 lakh people were prosecuted as a result of the scheme and in 2018, close to 8 lakh fines were issued. Did we abdicate our responsibility, or did we increase prosecution by around 50% — the highest since 2013?” he said.