Traffic fine enforcement day 1: Police make a steady start

CHENNAI: On the first day of enforcement of revised traffic fines, Chennai city police went soft on traffic offenders, creating awareness about the new traffic fines in several places. However, two-wheeler riders without wearing helmets were fined Rs 1,000 at several places in the city, in a teaser of sorts for the enforcement in the coming days.

“The instruction given was to create awareness from 8 am to 10 am and then fine the offenders. Clear instructions have also been given to not engage with motorists in case of arguments and levy the fine in the coming days,” a traffic police officer said.

A senior official with Chennai police said that stricter enforcements will begin from October 28 (Friday). “Apart from making vehicle users accustomed to the new fines and prepare themselves psychologically, we also need time to re-configure the e-challan machines with the updated fine amounts,” Additional Commissioner of Police (traffic), Kapil Kumar Saratkar had said last week.

Deputy Commissioner of traffic (south), R Sakthivel who oversaw enforcement activities in the city on Wednesday said that they started implementing the fines by installing checkpoints at 80 places in the city. “At present, there are 350 e-challan machines in Chennai. We have reconfigured 100 machines. They are getting ready in batches and by tomorrow evening, all machines will be revised, ” the deputy commissioner said and added that motorists and vehicle users are expected to co-operate.

The intention is to reduce accidents by the strict imposition of these fines and traffic enforcement officials will be given body worn cameras, so violators will be recorded, the official added.

Chennai City Traffic Police will be procuring additional e-challan machines and breathalysers to be issued to law and order personnel too as they will be part of traffic enforcement during night hours. “An addition of 170 e-challan machines and 72 breathalysers will be procured,” according to a senior official.