Zero-tolerance policy adopted for traffic violations

Mangaluru: These are not the best of times for any motorist in Namma Kudla so used to pushing the line when it comes to traffic rules. Even the seemingly innocuous act of stopping on the zebra crossing at signals could come back to pinch your wallets. Acting on feedback received from various stakeholders, the traffic wing of Mangaluru City police has launched a zero tolerance policy for traffic violations, and the number of cases booked is telling its own story.
Taking a cue from its city police chief Sandeep Patil, who in his earlier stint in Bengaluru has dealt with traffic issues of higher magnitude in the state capital, the Mangaluru City traffic police is on an overdrive to instil the fear of law among motorists. Tweets by Patil on his official handle @compolmlr only indicate the seriousness with which violations are being treated and how the traffic police is acting to complaints received by it on various forums.

Use of vehicle towing machines, one of the first initiatives that Patil took after assuming charge as city police chief, has had an impact in curbing parking in no parking areas. Two-wheeler and four-wheeler vehicle owners are now thinking twice before parking their vehicles. More than seeing their vehicles wheel clamped, the act of seeing one’s vehicle getting towed away seems to have sent the message.

Explaining the effect this has had on motorists, senior journalist Manohar Prasad says people now think twice before parking their vehicle even in their own flats. It is not just haphazard parking that the traffic police has zeroed in on, but a slew of offences, such as use of tinted glasses on cars, shrill horns by buses, drunken driving, overspeeding and transporting goods without proper tarpaulin covers to name a few.

“It is a simple case of following the three ‘Es’ pertaining to traffic management – enforcement, education and engineering,” avers Patil. “While we look after the first two Es, the city police in conjunction with local civic body – Mangaluru City Corporation— will attend to the engineering aspect as well,” Patil told TOI, adding that the idea behind the enforcement and education is to get the law-abiding citizens of the city to fall in line for their own safety.

“I have received more suggestions than complaints on the enforcement drive undertaken by the traffic police. No issues have been been brought to me directly or otherwise on police harassment during enforcement and receptive and cooperative citizens understand the spirit behind the same and are cooperating with the traffic police. A few issues such as traffic bottlenecks especially between Bunts Hostel to Ambedkar (Jyothi) Circles are very much on my mind.” – Sandeep Patil, city police commissioner.