Broke the rule? Cough up the fine but insist on getting a receipt - xBhp.com : The Global Indian Biking Community

Kishan · 08-10-2009, 05:17 PM

VIEWPOINT

Broke the rule? Cough up the fine but insist on getting a receipt

Praveen Sood

Nothing amuses me more than surveys highlighting the ranking of countries, states or departments on the index of corruption. How does it matter whether a department is the 10th or 100th in the index? Is there any limit up to which corruption is acceptable? It is not the department but few people in that department who are corrupt. To generally brand a department as corrupt is
over simplification. Empowering the citizen and making procedures objective and transparent is the key to success.
In this context, traffic enforcement is one area of brickbats. Without denying the existence of malignancy, citizens need to be empowered against abuse of power by educating them about the correct position of law. If you pay any fine, you must insist on the receipt. A policeman abusing power is unlikely to issue a receipt and, therefore, if you insist, the chances are that you will be allowed to go. But most of us panic and still others are too willing to strike a deal.
Though few policemen may go overboard in their zeal to collect fines or fill their own pockets, not every policeman is wrong. Let us accept that ours is not a naturally compliant society. Most of us violate one or the other rule every day. Each of us finds a justification for doing so. A policeman cannot absolve you of jumping the red light just because you were in a hurry. Many of us don’t hesitate to drop names or threaten the policeman with dire consequences when caught. Many argue endlessly and then complain of bad behaviour by policeman. One gets respect if he respects the law as well as the law enforcer.
Another problem is our eagerness to bargain. For every bribe taker there is a bribe giver. Often, I receive letters abusing policemen and telling me how they did 50-50 with the policeman to avoid harassment (read going to court). I wonder who is the bigger culprit. The fight against corruption cannot be won by short cuts, and somebody has to take a stand against it rather than becoming party to it.
Another area of corruption is disproportionate and unfair expectations. In minor accidents not involving bodily injuries, 90% of cases should actually be the subject matter of insurance companies and not the police. In progressive countries, only 10% of the cases go to police where people cannot agree about fault and liability. In India, the reverse is true, for, no one will admit to their fault. Now, deciding who is to blame is not easy but people expect police to deliver instant justice and compensation from the other party. This is beyond their scope of duty and the beginning of corruption.
Measures like BlackBerry and automation centres are a step to introduce transparency and objectivity. BlackBerry ensures that not a single penny is siphoned off. It also eliminates scope for over charging the traffic violator. Automation Centres are another user-friendly initiative which accept fine against violation tickets at any BangaloreOne centre or website, and help eliminate physical interaction between police and the violator. So don’t break traffic rules, but if you do and happen to get caught, don’t argue, or look for a deal. Pay and insist on a receipt.
Fine FAQs
What document am I expected to carry?
You are to carry your original driving licence and insurance certificate. Buses, taxies and auto rickshaws must have permit and fitness certificate. These documents should be produced for inspection if a police officer asks for them. Alternatively, you can get a MASTER Card from the RTO which is proof that the driver has all valid documents. With this card, you don’t need to carry other documents.
Will policemen stop me for checking documents?
All police officers have been clearly instructed not to stop motorists to merely check documents. Only if a motorist commits some traffic violation can he be stopped, his documents checked, and be penalized.
Who can receive payment of spot fine?
Only assistant sub-inspector (one star), police sub-inspector (two star) and police inspector (three star) are authorized to receive payments against violation and issue a receipt. No constable or head constable can issue a receipt and, therefore, receive a payment. They can, however, record the violations on the basis of which violation ticket will follow. This ticket can be settled at any traffic police stations or BangaloreOne centre or on the Bangalore Traffic Police website. In case a constable or head constable threatens you with spot fine, insist on getting a receipt and the chances are he will let you go because he is not authorized to issue a receipt or receive money.
What is the spot fine for drunken driving?
There is no spot fine for drunken driving. In such a case, police notice is issued asking the person to appear before the court. Only a court is empowered to impose the fine.
What happens if I don’t appear in court?
If you fail to appear in court, it will issue a warrant. This may lead to arrest and stiffer penalty.
What is the punishment for drunken driving?
In the first instance, there can be a penalty of up to Rs 3,000, which may extend to imprisonment in subsequent offence.
After being booked for drunken driving, can I continue to drive myself ?
No. You will have to arrange for an alternative driver who is not drunk or take a cab, leaving the vehicle in the police station which will be released after you have settled the case in court.
What about pollution check?
It is mandatory to carry emission certificate. However, police have been instructed not to stop any motorists to merely check emission certificate.
Can police penalize vehicles with number plates of other states?
No. The police are not authorized to penalize anyone for having the number plate of another state.
Why have I received a violation ticket for a vehicle I have already sold?
Notices are generated by computers picking up address from transport department records. The very fact you have received a notice means that vehicle continues to be in your name in the records, even though you might have sold it. Selling a vehicle without insisting on change of ownership is a very a dangerous practice. Signing a delivery note is no guarantee of change of ownership. You have to insist on the buyer registering the vehicle in his name, failing which you have to get it done yourself at the RTO. Unless you do so, you will continue to receive violation notices. Worse things can happen if the vehicle is involved in a fatal accident or terrorist activity. You will have to suffer the consequences.
My vehicle got damaged in an accident. Police did not help me in getting compensation.
Insurance company and not the police can get you the damages. Police will only prosecute the accused for criminal negligence in court.
(The writer is additional
commissioner of police, traffic)

Hope it is USEFUL

Ride Safe
BoBBy

ken cool · 08-10-2009, 05:59 PM

First Post on Xbhp Approved

Wow! What a first post! Welcome to xBhp.

pranay · 08-10-2009, 06:09 PM

What a great post. Actually, this would be a great follow up on the thread about Bangalore Traffic police not permitted to stop vehicles just to check documents. This is hell of a lot more in detail.

Lost Soul · 08-10-2009, 06:11 PM

can you give the link from where you got the info ?

avinrichards · 08-10-2009, 06:24 PM

You are to carry your original driving licence and insurance certificate.
oh.. now this i didnt know. But then getting the master card would be the only option.

>>Only if a motorist commits some traffic violation can he be stopped, his documents checked, and be penalized.

>>No. The police are not authorized to penalize anyone for having the number plate of another state.

^^the above 2 are the biggest reliefs..!

MaSh · 08-10-2009, 07:17 PM

Wow, makes a lot of things crystal clear. When I brought my bike (Andhra Pradesh registration) from Delhi to Bangalore, I was asked to pay the road tax and carry the payment receipts. Is this the right thing, or even this was not required? The other documents I was asked to carry with me are Driver's License, Insurance certificate and bike's registration card.

Master card surely sounds like a great option. Thank You for the information shared.

avinrichards · 08-10-2009, 07:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mashmash

I was asked to pay the road tax and carry the payment receipts.

according to what is stated above. you do not need to pay any more tax. What you have payed when you bought the bike is enough.

grandvam · 08-10-2009, 07:43 PM

>>Only if a motorist commits some traffic violation can he be stopped, his documents checked, and be penalized.

is this the same all over india?? any rule number or source, please?

any comments from Hyd ppl???

MavericK46 · 08-10-2009, 07:49 PM

^After the first of these announcements (Roughly a month ago) by Mr. Sood, the cops have stopped the de-riguer pulling over, here in Bangalore.
Whether its the 'rule' nationally or not one can't guarantee. But it surely has made us Bangaloreans' a big bunch of happy chappies !

niks_devil666 · 08-10-2009, 08:00 PM

does this hold only for bangalore?

08-10-2009, 05:17 PM	#1 (permalink)
Kishan Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: KA,Bangalore Posts: 63	Broke the rule? Cough up the fine but insist on getting a receipt VIEWPOINT Broke the rule? Cough up the fine but insist on getting a receipt Praveen Sood Nothing amuses me more than surveys highlighting the ranking of countries, states or departments on the index of corruption. How does it matter whether a department is the 10th or 100th in the index? Is there any limit up to which corruption is acceptable? It is not the department but few people in that department who are corrupt. To generally brand a department as corrupt is over simplification. Empowering the citizen and making procedures objective and transparent is the key to success. In this context, traffic enforcement is one area of brickbats. Without denying the existence of malignancy, citizens need to be empowered against abuse of power by educating them about the correct position of law. If you pay any fine, you must insist on the receipt. A policeman abusing power is unlikely to issue a receipt and, therefore, if you insist, the chances are that you will be allowed to go. But most of us panic and still others are too willing to strike a deal. Though few policemen may go overboard in their zeal to collect fines or fill their own pockets, not every policeman is wrong. Let us accept that ours is not a naturally compliant society. Most of us violate one or the other rule every day. Each of us finds a justification for doing so. A policeman cannot absolve you of jumping the red light just because you were in a hurry. Many of us don’t hesitate to drop names or threaten the policeman with dire consequences when caught. Many argue endlessly and then complain of bad behaviour by policeman. One gets respect if he respects the law as well as the law enforcer. Another problem is our eagerness to bargain. For every bribe taker there is a bribe giver. Often, I receive letters abusing policemen and telling me how they did 50-50 with the policeman to avoid harassment (read going to court). I wonder who is the bigger culprit. The fight against corruption cannot be won by short cuts, and somebody has to take a stand against it rather than becoming party to it. Another area of corruption is disproportionate and unfair expectations. In minor accidents not involving bodily injuries, 90% of cases should actually be the subject matter of insurance companies and not the police. In progressive countries, only 10% of the cases go to police where people cannot agree about fault and liability. In India, the reverse is true, for, no one will admit to their fault. Now, deciding who is to blame is not easy but people expect police to deliver instant justice and compensation from the other party. This is beyond their scope of duty and the beginning of corruption. Measures like BlackBerry and automation centres are a step to introduce transparency and objectivity. BlackBerry ensures that not a single penny is siphoned off. It also eliminates scope for over charging the traffic violator. Automation Centres are another user-friendly initiative which accept fine against violation tickets at any BangaloreOne centre or website, and help eliminate physical interaction between police and the violator. So don’t break traffic rules, but if you do and happen to get caught, don’t argue, or look for a deal. Pay and insist on a receipt. Fine FAQs What document am I expected to carry? You are to carry your original driving licence and insurance certificate. Buses, taxies and auto rickshaws must have permit and fitness certificate. These documents should be produced for inspection if a police officer asks for them. Alternatively, you can get a MASTER Card from the RTO which is proof that the driver has all valid documents. With this card, you don’t need to carry other documents. Will policemen stop me for checking documents? All police officers have been clearly instructed not to stop motorists to merely check documents. Only if a motorist commits some traffic violation can he be stopped, his documents checked, and be penalized. Who can receive payment of spot fine? Only assistant sub-inspector (one star), police sub-inspector (two star) and police inspector (three star) are authorized to receive payments against violation and issue a receipt. No constable or head constable can issue a receipt and, therefore, receive a payment. They can, however, record the violations on the basis of which violation ticket will follow. This ticket can be settled at any traffic police stations or BangaloreOne centre or on the Bangalore Traffic Police website. In case a constable or head constable threatens you with spot fine, insist on getting a receipt and the chances are he will let you go because he is not authorized to issue a receipt or receive money. What is the spot fine for drunken driving? There is no spot fine for drunken driving. In such a case, police notice is issued asking the person to appear before the court. Only a court is empowered to impose the fine. What happens if I don’t appear in court? If you fail to appear in court, it will issue a warrant. This may lead to arrest and stiffer penalty. What is the punishment for drunken driving? In the first instance, there can be a penalty of up to Rs 3,000, which may extend to imprisonment in subsequent offence. After being booked for drunken driving, can I continue to drive myself ? No. You will have to arrange for an alternative driver who is not drunk or take a cab, leaving the vehicle in the police station which will be released after you have settled the case in court. What about pollution check? It is mandatory to carry emission certificate. However, police have been instructed not to stop any motorists to merely check emission certificate. Can police penalize vehicles with number plates of other states? No. The police are not authorized to penalize anyone for having the number plate of another state. Why have I received a violation ticket for a vehicle I have already sold? Notices are generated by computers picking up address from transport department records. The very fact you have received a notice means that vehicle continues to be in your name in the records, even though you might have sold it. Selling a vehicle without insisting on change of ownership is a very a dangerous practice. Signing a delivery note is no guarantee of change of ownership. You have to insist on the buyer registering the vehicle in his name, failing which you have to get it done yourself at the RTO. Unless you do so, you will continue to receive violation notices. Worse things can happen if the vehicle is involved in a fatal accident or terrorist activity. You will have to suffer the consequences. My vehicle got damaged in an accident. Police did not help me in getting compensation. Insurance company and not the police can get you the damages. Police will only prosecute the accused for criminal negligence in court. (The writer is additional commissioner of police, traffic) Hope it is USEFUL Ride Safe BoBBy

08-10-2009, 05:59 PM	#2 (permalink)
ken cool Super Moderator Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: New Delhi Posts: 4,677	First Post on Xbhp Approved Wow! What a first post! Welcome to xBhp. __________________ The Wheel was a great invention; Two Wheels with a Motor in between was even better! BMW Motorrad Days 2011 Xbhp's Indo-French Kashmir-Ladakh Tour

08-10-2009, 06:09 PM	#3 (permalink)
pranay Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Bangalore, Karnataka, India. Posts: 1,806	What a great post. Actually, this would be a great follow up on the thread about Bangalore Traffic police not permitted to stop vehicles just to check documents. This is hell of a lot more in detail. __________________ DoN\'t LivE tO DiE, dIe tO LiVe

08-10-2009, 06:11 PM	#4 (permalink)
Lost Soul ♥ Megan ♥ [:D] Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Jaipur Posts: 203	can you give the link from where you got the info ? __________________ The movie Dhoom is loosely based on my Life *

08-10-2009, 06:24 PM	#5 (permalink)
avinrichards am i who idea no have you! Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Bangalore /Cochin Posts: 1,304	You are to carry your original driving licence and insurance certificate. oh.. now this i didnt know. But then getting the master card would be the only option. >>Only if a motorist commits some traffic violation can he be stopped, his documents checked, and be penalized. >>No. The police are not authorized to penalize anyone for having the number plate of another state. ^^the above 2 are the biggest reliefs..! __________________ Last edited by avinrichards; 08-10-2009 at 07:30 PM.

08-10-2009, 07:17 PM	#6 (permalink)
MaSh Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 431	Wow, makes a lot of things crystal clear. When I brought my bike (Andhra Pradesh registration) from Delhi to Bangalore, I was asked to pay the road tax and carry the payment receipts. Is this the right thing, or even this was not required? The other documents I was asked to carry with me are Driver's License, Insurance certificate and bike's registration card. Master card surely sounds like a great option. Thank You for the information shared. __________________ **MaSh Work to Ride and Ride to Work**

08-10-2009, 07:43 PM	#8 (permalink)
grandvam Junior Most Join Date: May 2009 Location: Hyderabad->Banglore Posts: 91	>>Only if a motorist commits some traffic violation can he be stopped, his documents checked, and be penalized. is this the same all over india?? any rule number or source, please? any comments from Hyd ppl??? __________________ vamsi

08-10-2009, 07:49 PM	#9 (permalink)
MavericK46 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,191	^After the first of these announcements (Roughly a month ago) by Mr. Sood, the cops have stopped the de-riguer pulling over, here in Bangalore. Whether its the 'rule' nationally or not one can't guarantee. But it surely has made us Bangaloreans' a big bunch of happy chappies ! __________________ I'm normally not a praying man, but if you're up there, please save me Superman. -Homer J Simpson Last edited by MavericK46; 08-10-2009 at 07:54 PM. Reason: Editing is a Jew and must be EDITed at all costs !

08-10-2009, 08:00 PM	#10 (permalink)
niks_devil666 Impulsed Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Local Area Network Posts: 2,065	does this hold only for bangalore? __________________ The Moto Cafe - India's first bike theme cafe @ Chandni Chowk The Moto Cafe video - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6XztkK4ej2U My Youtube channel http://www.youtube.com/user/niksdevil666

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