Crackdown on male riders with covered faces, fine 60

INDORE: Traffic police have banned male riders on two-wheelers from covering their faces with masks or scarves while riding on city roads. The drive police said is aimed to prevent criminals and anti-socials from hiding their identities. In the initial three days of the drive seven persons were caught and fined by police.
Senior officials claimed move will bring down criminal activities and plan to ban women riders too – but they have been spared for the time being due to shortage of women staff.
DSP Traffic, Pradeep Singh Chouhan told TOI, “Traffic police is now acting against men moving on two-wheelers with covered faces. It has been done to keep criminals at bay and not to let riders conceal their identity.”
He said if they feel they would face any skin problems, dust or heat, they can cover themselves by wearing helmet. “Our aim to make people aware that helmet can help protecting them from heat, dust,” said Chouhan.
He said there is an increase in number of young boys and men moving around with covered faces. “Summers are over but still they come up with excuses of skin problem or getting tanned. We do not find these relevant,” said Chouhan. He said with faces covered it becomes difficult to identify the person on Red Light Violation Detection (RLVD) system cameras.
ASP Traffic, Pankaj Shrivastav said, “This move is to stop criminals moving freely on city road by concealing their identity.”
Presently we are letting off women with advice to use helmets. “We are not strict towards women because we do not have enough women personnel to keep a check on them,” said Shrivastav.
Meanwhile at markets, face masks for boys are gradually becoming a trend. Dhirendra Tiwari, a shopkeeper at Rajwada, said, “From last month trend of fancy face masks for boys increased and we sell around 5 to 6 masks everyday.”
Retired justice PD Muley said that there are no laws to prosecute such people who are driving on road covering masks. “This could be rather illogical or bizarre for riders as there is no such law in Motor Vehicles Act, but from safety point of view this could be correct,” said Muley.
According to traffic department, till now 60 male riders were fined for driving with faces covered. A minimum fine of Rs 250 is charged on the offender.