Another licence lost for driving drunk twice

The businessman, too, was caught twice driving under the influence of alcohol. After the second offence he not only lost his licence permanently but was also jailed for six months and fined Rs 2,000.

“Jay Upadhyay (32), a businessman dealing in real estate at Borivali, had been first arrested on the night of June 2 for drunken driving. That was his first offence; he was jailed for a day and the magistrate court fined him Rs 1,800 and suspended his licence for six months,” DCP (Traffic) Harish Baijal said.

On October 18, Upadhyay was arrested again for the same offence, and by the same officer from the Borivali traffic division. “This being the second offence, a strict view was taken while passing the sentence on November 5,” said Baijal. Upadhyay has been sent to Thane Jail.

Baijal did not have the exact figures for the number of motorists whose licenses have been permanently suspended for drunken driving.

But he made an estimate: “As far as my knowledge goes, around 10-12 drivers have had their licenses suspended permanently so far for being caught twice for driving under the influence of alcohol.”

According to data with the traffic police department, 7,150 driving licences have been suspended this year till November 5.