Madras HC: Empower SIs, seniors to fine traffic violators

CHENNAI: In a radical suggestion to curb road rule violations, the Madras high court has asked the government to empower all police officers above the rank of sub-inspector to impose penalty on violators.
Setting a one-week ultimatum for the government to empower officials to also compound Motor Vehicles Act violations and to review spot fine ceiling, a division bench of Justice S Manikumar and Justice Subramonium Prasad said, “In view of the increase of traffic by 150%, it is need of the hour that the government should exercise the powers conferred under the Motor Vehicles Act and issue appropriate orders empowering all the police officers not below the rank of sub-inspectors to discharge the duties and responsibilities of a traffic police in the rank of sub-inspector.”
The bench passed the interim order on the PIL moved by K K Rajendran for a direction to authorities to ensure strict compliance of helmet rule by both the rider and pillion of two-wheelers.
When the plea came up for hearing, additional advocate general P H Aravindh Pandian said the government spent Rs 605 crore exclusively for road safety from 2000 to 2019.
Noting that the government is taking steps to introduce smart gadgets to impose penalty and to facilitate payment of fines, Arvindh Pandian said the authorities needed time, as the machines for spot fine had to come and police officers had to be trained to use them. At least two weeks’ time is required, he said.
He further added that the police department had developed an App through which public could lodge complaints. So far, 645 users have downloaded the app and we have received 51 complaints.