Cops collect over Rs 8 lakh in fines in 1 day from traffic rule violators

BAREILLY: Traffic awareness month is taking a toll on residents violating rules. Though the campaign began on October 1, the drive to challan violators was stepped up from October 20, after new senior superintendent of police Jogendra Kumar took charge and set a target of Rs 75 lakh to be collected by the traffic police from violators. The campaign ends on October 30.
Since then, traffic cops have pulled up their socks and booking violators with right earnest. Under the Motor Vehicles Act, there are 11 different violations including wrong side driving, driving without helmet, wrong parking, speed limit, drunk driving, vehicles without registration numbers and talking on mobile while driving.
Not only traffic cops but the entire police department in the district has been roped in to intensify checking.
Speaking with TOI, superintendent of police, traffic, OP Yadav said, “Since the campaign intensified on October 20, police stations, outposts and traffic police have been given respective targets to reach a particular revenue figure depending upon the traffic influx and available manpower. As of now, we have set target of collecting Rs 75 lakh.”
According to police sources, a sum of Rs 4 lakh is being collected as challans on a daily basis. The highest collection so far was Rs 8 lakh in aday. “A total of 397 vehicles were booked on October 21 and Rs 8 lakh was collected by way of challans. The collection was more than 8 lakhs on Saturday. We hope to reach the target by October 30.” SP, traffic, added.
Meanwhile, officials in the police department are reeling under pressure to meet the targets. “We have active throughout the day, running checking drives at all important crossings and roads to nab violators so that revenue targets are met,” said a police officer who did not wish to be identified. His police station has been given a target of raising Rs 70,000 a day.
Superintendent of police, city, Sameer Saurabh said, “Apart from adding to the exchequer, the drive acts as deterrent to violators. We also engage in other activities like traffic awareness campaigns and rallies by school students, lightening of main crossing and contact roads, putting up of banners and distributing other collaterals to promote traffic awareness.”