25 booked for illegal beacon lights
The Mumbai traffic police, on Monday, initiated a drive against unauthorised use of beacon lights on vehicles.
The Mumbai traffic police, on Monday, initiated a drive against unauthorised use of beacon lights on vehicles.
Vivek Phansalkar, joint commissioner of police (traffic), said, “We have booked 25 offenders. Most used the light to evade toll.”
Chief secretary Jayant Banthia has recently issued a circular seeking implementation of rules under the Motor Vehicles Act.
On Tuesday, two motorists were arrested at the Airoli toll naka for using beacon lights. Nilesh Panchal was driving a Mercedes Benz with a red beacon light.
When questioned, he claimed that his uncle is a minister in Gujarat, said a traffic police official.
“Panchal was arrested under IPC section 171 for carrying a token used by public servant with fraudulent intent and other sections of the Motor Vehicles Act. He was subsequently granted bail,” the official said.
Senior traffic officials argued that there should be rules to ban the sale and purchase of beacon lights and their procurement should be limited to government departments.
“The transport department could allot serial numbers to each official authorised to use a beacon. This could curb its misuse,” said the official.