Gurgaon police receives 1,000 traffic complaints on WhatsApp in 15 days - Hindustan Times
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Gurgaon police receives 1,000 traffic complaints on WhatsApp in 15 days

Hindustan Times | By, Gurgaon
Feb 20, 2017 10:31 AM IST

The police received more than 1,000 complaints, mostly through WhatsApp, and have issued 247 postal challans to violators since February 3 when the service was launched.

The WhatsApp and email service of Gurgaon police for reporting traffic violations have started yielding results. The police received more than 1,000 complaints, mostly through WhatsApp, and have issued 247 postal challans to violators since February 3 when the service was launched.

Once a complaint is received, the police would verify if the violation took place before sending a notice to the vehicle owner.(HT File)
Once a complaint is received, the police would verify if the violation took place before sending a notice to the vehicle owner.(HT File)

The police claim that three of the violators have responded and cleared the challans, while the others have yet to respond. Most of the complaints pertain to illegal parking, jumping signal, talking on mobile phone while driving and riding bikes without helmets.

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On February 3, police inaugurated a postal challan branch at the previous office of the police commissioner. They put out a WhatsApp number — 9999981800 — and an email ID pcbranchggm@gmail.com using which residents can post complaints on traffic violations and send photos or videos of the violations as proof.

Once a complaint is received, the police would verify if the violation took place before sending a notice to the vehicle owner. Police asked the complainants to make sure that the registration number of the vehicle and the violation should be visible in the pictures or videos posted
by them.

If the notice fails to get a response within a week, the violator would be charged under the Motor Vehicles Act which invites three months of imprisonment or a fine of 1,000, a police spokesperson said.

“We have issued postal challans to about 247 violators and notices to several others seeking an explanation. However, in some of the pictures sent to us, the vehicle or the violation reported isn’t clearly visible,” the police spokesperson said.

The violator would have to respond to the challan or notice within a week, failing which action would be initiated under the Motor Vehicles Act, the spokesperson said.

In November, the traffic police were equipped with 15 body worn cameras for better functioning and monitoring of traffic related matters. The cameras attached to the policemen’s uniforms are equipped to capture videos and also enable the officers to take audio recordings of violations.

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  • ABOUT THE AUTHOR
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    Rashpal Singh covers socio-economic and development issues in Gurgaon and adjoining districts. A journalist for over a decade with stints in Shimla, Chandigarh and Jaipur, he also writes on transport, local administration and the district BJP.

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