Drunk driving: Cops in plain clothes on watch

The traffic police will play partypooper for people deciding to drive under the influence of alcohol on New Year eve.

The traffic police will play partypooper for people deciding to drive under the influence of alcohol on New Year eve. On December 31,policemen in plainclothes would stand guard outside pubs,restaurants and other party venues in the city to spot drunk drivers and book them.

Earlier,we used to barricade the road,stop motorists and ask them to take a breath analyser test. We realised that many motorists took a U-turn once they sighted barricades. Many people find it offending when we ask them use the breath analyser machine and with swine flu spreading in the city we need to be careful, said Manoj Patil,DCP (Traffic).

Patil said policemen in plain clothes have been asked to keep a vigil outside party venues this year and keep a check on people coming out of hotels. Once the officers spot a person under the influence of alcohol driving out of the venue,he would alert traffic police squads in the city. The police squads would be informed about the vehicle registration number and would track the vehicle in the city and ask the driver to take a breath analyser test, he said.

Patil said people found driving in an inebriated state would be booked under Section 185 of the Motor Vehicle Act and produced before the court. If they are convicted they can be sentenced to six months imprisonment,Rs 2,000 fine or both. In 2008,the traffic police department had booked 1,452 people for drunk driving while in 2009 the number increased to 2,914.

In last one week the traffic police booked 605 people for drunk driving. I appeal to the people to cooperate with the police and not engage in drunk driving, Patil said.

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