Penalty for drunk driver: Managing traffic

Property dealer Hari Niwas, 30, has been spending his entire day at the busy intersection of Dwarka Sector 1 and 2, managing traffic with the regular traffic police staff, since October 1.

Property dealer Hari Niwas, 30, has been spending his entire day at the busy intersection of Dwarka Sector 1 and 2, managing traffic with the regular traffic police staff, since October 1.

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Niwas was caught for drunk driving. The court decided on a unique mode of punishment and told him to manage traffic.

"Now, I know how difficult the task of traffic police men is. I will never drink and drive again. It was indeed an irresponsible act on my part," he said, tired after a difficult day.

Driving after a few pegs —his alcometer reading showed 137.7mg in his blood, far more than the permissible 30mg —landed the Kakrola resident in the traffic police net, after which the court ordered him to do 'traffic police duty' till Wednesday instead of sending him to jail.

Setting a new trend, session courts for traffic has started sending errant drivers, specially the young ones, for managing traffic or to provide community services in lieu of imprisonment.

Hari Niwas, father of a three-year-old-girl child, pleaded to the court not to send him behind bars which, according to him, would leave an "indelible blot" on his life and could also ruin his daughter's future.

Courts have also sent offenders to temples and gurdwara for community services. "Such punishments help in reforming the violators. We want people to restrain from drinking and driving," said Satyendra Garg, joint commissioner of police (traffic).