Over 300 booked for rash riding on College Road

NASHIK: Over 300 motorcyclists, mostly college students, were booked for rash driving on College Road on Tuesday during a police crackdown in the wake of the death of a college professor on the road due to speeding.
On Monday, professors of five colleges took to the streets in protest against the death of the professor and demanded stringent action against rash drivers, more speed breakers and signals.They also sought action against "rash auto-rickshaw" drivers.
The "nakabandi" started at 11am at Canada Corner, Hallmark Chowk, Jehan Circle and Bhonsala Military School to apprehend rash drivers on College Road and adjoining streets.
Deputy commissioner of police (zone I) Laxmikant Patil said the drive has been started to curb the rash-driving menace on the 1.5km stretch. "Around 80 police personnel, along with 14 officers, were deployed at the four junctions to check documents and take action against the rash drivers. As many as 319 cases were registered in two hours and a fine of Rs 35,000 was collected from violators for not possessing documents, flaunting fancy number plates and rash driving."
The DCP said such drives will continue and be intensified in coming days, considering the traffic obstruction and rising complaints in the area. "Parents should also ensure that their child is riding vehicle only after he or she gets a licence and has other necessary documents to avoid inconvenience and fines," he said.
In the meantime, police on Tuesday continued with their drive against motorcycles with altered silencers and noisy horns. They took action against owners of 10 such vehicles, taking the number to 43 bikers booked in the third drive in a week.
Laxmikant Patil, deputy commissioner of police (zone I), said action was taken against motorcyclists who had alter the silencers altered and were not complying with the RTO norms. "Ten such bikes were found during the drive. As per the norms, the vehicles should not cross the 90 decibel limit. Modified vehicles causing noise were sent to RTO for verification and further action," he added.
The registration of these vehicles has been suspended for violating the norms and penalties were imposed on the violators for noise pollution. "A memo is issued to the vehicle owners. The vehicles remain in the police custody till the alterations are rectified. The vehicles would only be returned to the owners after they pay the fines," Patil said.