Red beacon violators slip through loopholes

NEW DELHI: Unauthorized use of beacons and revolving lights atop cars remains a problem police are yet to stop. Worryingly even criminals are known to use such cars. Many flaunt political connections and get past the law.
Last October, a youngster posed as a political leader and cheated a south Delhi jeweller of lakhs of rupees. He used a red beacon car, posed as a politician to win his victim’s trust and later dupe him.
Violators use loopholes in the law to justify red lights atop their cars, police said. For instance, a clause says an official of a certain rank or an “equivalent” position can use such a car. Offenders often claim they hold an “equivalent” rank to dodge the law. Cross checking these claims become impossible on the roads.
In fact, government officers used the “equivalent” clause to add 25 new ranks to the list of red beacon users this year, police said.
The original law governing use of red beacon cars says revolving red light can be used only by vehicles on emergency duty such as ambulances, fire tenders and PCRs. Police patrol vehicles, pilot vehicles and transport department vehicles can use blue flasher light. Amber flasher light can be installed on vehicles plying at national or international airports. Additionally, the state chief secretary must clear red beacon use.
Traffic police officers said they had stepped up the drive against the unauthorized use of beacons. The number of prosecutions this year is up to 226 against last year’s 111. But most offenders use high connections to escape punishment. Worse, a violator gets off lightly with a Rs 100 fine.
The rules make it mandatory to keep the beacons covered when the authorized individual is not using the car. “Most often relatives of the person are in the car and the beacons keep flashing,” a traffic official said.
“We have been strict while prosecuting such vehicle owner. No matter who they are, if they violate rules they are prosecuted. Our boys have also got a list of those allowed to use red beacons and flashers which they follow while prosecuting,” said Anil Shukla, additional CP, traffic.