If The Traffic Polices statistics are anything to go by,flashing the red beacon may not be the best way for government officials to showcase their clout on Delhi roads. As many as 316 vehicles,including that of a top CRPF official,were challaned this year for running red beacons without clearance. The number of vehicles fined in 2010 for this offence was a meagre seven. The latest to be penalised was the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) Standing Committee chairman Yogendra Chandolia,who is not entitled to use a red beacon on his car. Incidentally,the violation came forth via social networking site Facebook,when somebody uploaded a picture of his car with the beacon on. The Traffic Police traced the car to Chandolia,and fined him Rs 100. When asked about the quantum leap in such challans issued this year,Satyendra Garg,Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic) said,The rules are same for everybody,and there can be no exception. I have told my officers to challan the violator irrespective of their social status and post. In January this year,the Traffic Police started booking private vehicles using red and blue beacons,mostly vehicles of elected representatives from Delhi. After an effective campaign in June,they began looking out for government vehicles that violated the rule. Among the people booked were officials from the legislative assembly and disaster management department,a few MPs from Delhi,and former chief ministers. Vehicles belonging to the DG (CRPF),Deputy Director (Admn) Delhi Legislative Assembly old Secretariat,Chief Ministers Office,Transport Manager of Haryana Roadways,Secretary (Legislative Assembly) ,Government of NCT,and Central government officials also found themselves on the wrong side of the law. Violation does not just mean jumping a red light or overspeeding. Using something you are not entitled to can also be deemed as a violation. Earlier,Traffic Police personnel never paid attention to the use of red-and-blue beacons by the people not entitled to them,but they are now keep a check on it, Garg said. People just get a sense of self-importance by placing a red beacon on their car. Other than that,a car with a red light gets no special privilege it is supposed to move with the normal traffic flow. But people violating the rules just for the sake of self-satisfaction is unacceptable, he added Under the Delhi Motor Vehicles Rules,1989,using a red beacon with a flasher is permitted only on vehicles belonging to the Lieutenant-Governor,Chief Minister,Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court,Speaker,Legislative Assembly of Delhi,Leaders of Opposition,Legislative Assembly of Delhi,Cabinet Ministers of Delhi and judges of the Delhi High Court. Red lights without flasher are only permitted for the State Election Commissioner,Deputy Speaker of Legislative Assembly,Chief Secretary,and General Officer (Commanding) of Delhi. The rules also make it mandatory to obtain written permission of the Chief Secretary of Delhi for using a red light without a flasher. When these vehicles are not carrying dignitaries,the lights are supposed to be hidden from public view under a black cover.
