Offenders come up with novel excuses for over-speeding

The Chandigarh traffic police had deployed speed radar gun to catch the offenders near the IT park. A similar naka was also laid down in the Industrial Area on Wednesday afternoon.

Like Ruchika,many challaned on Wednesday by Chandigarh traffic police in a special drive against over-speeding in the city argued that their speed was just a little higher than the normal and they should have not been challaned.

“I was traveling at the speed of 60 kilometres per hour and I was told by the traffic police that my speed on the road should have been 55 kilometres per hour. So I was not going at such a high speed that I should be challaned,” argued Roshan Deen,manager at the ITC. The traffic policemen,however,explained that it was a violation and they had no option but to issue challan. The traffic marshal also intervened and explained as to why the traffic police has initiated the drive against over-speeding.

“Beta (son),barely half a kilometers away from this spot,three children have died in car accidents in past few months,so we have to be very strict and challan people for over-speeding,” explained the traffic marshal Gurnam Singh who was accompanying the traffic police.

Deen insisted that he should be allowed to pay the fine on the spot. The request was flatly turned down and the traffic police sub inspector said,“Court mein jaana ya traffic lines main,aur challan release karwa lena (Go to Court or to the traffic lines and get your challan released).”

The Chandigarh police launched a special drive from Monday against over-speeding in the city and so far over 200 offenders have been challaned. The drive is likely to continue in the days ahead. The fine amount,in case the vehicle is out stationed,is taken on spot and for the city vehicles the fine is to be deposited either in the court or the police traffic lines.

Inspector Jaswinder,who was heading the police naka near the IT park said that the speed radar gun was being used to detect the vehicles’ speed. “We also record the speed of the vehicles and if any one challenges that he was not going at such a speed as mentioned in the challan,we show him the recording,” he said. There were also those who threw their weight around by dropping names and claiming that they are close to some civil or police officers. “Once the speed radar gun detects that a driver is over-speeding,some of them call any senior police or civil officer for not issuing challans,” the Traffic Marshal Singh said.

During this drive,one offender even tried to bribe the policeman. “Uncle,please challan math kato (uncle,don’t issue challan),” said Isha while trying to bribe the traffic police man. The traffic police man,however,issued the challan and warned of serious action if she tried to bribe any other traffic man.

The speed limit varies in the cities from one road to another,but at most of the roads the limit for a scooter is 40 km per hour,55 km per hour for cars and 45 km per hour for heavy motor vehicles.