Don’t ignore traffic notices, you may be jailed

The Delhi Traffic Police arrested 10 persons on Thursday for not responding to court summons sent to them after they repeatedly failed to pay fine or appear in court. All of them are accused of jumping red lights, reports Nivedita Khandekar.

Failing to pay fine for traffic violations can now land you in jail.

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The Delhi Traffic Police arrested 10 persons on Thursday for not responding to court summons sent to them after they repeatedly failed to pay fine or appear in court. All of them are accused of jumping red lights.

After obtaining bailable warrants from Special Metropolitan Magistrate Mohammed Naki from the Underhill Court, the Delhi Traffic Police sent their men to the homes of 22 offenders, of which 10 were arrested.

“Laws and provisions to arrest existed all through, but there was no proper follow up done resulting in pending notices. It involved a lot of liasoning with magistrates to issue bailable warrants so that the violators who don't bother to pay fines, do not get away easily,” said Additional Commissioner of Police Muktesh Chander. “This is just a beginning. Today we have taken strict action for warrants issued by one court. In the coming days same can be done for all traffic courts.”

Every year, the traffic police’s notice branch sends more than 10 lakh challans but most remain unpaid. More than 13 lakh such notices were sent in 2007, of which only 17 per cent were paid. Sensing the need to correct the scenario, the traffic police decided to go in for a step-by-step yet a strict approach.

Notice branch challans for jumping red light were chosen and equipped with digital photos from red light (jump/speed) cameras at 15 intersections, the traffic police could send proof of violations to the offenders along with the notices.