Mumbai beware, cops with handy cams to patrol roads on new years' eve

With more than 200 traffic policemen armed with handy cameras and mobile phones with cameras, getting away with a traffic violation such as drink driving or speeding might not be easy this New Year’s Eve.

With more than 200 traffic policemen armed with handy cameras and mobile phones with cameras, getting away with a traffic violation such as drink driving or speeding might not be easy this New Year’s Eve. For, the traffic department plans to send you a fine receipt (challan) within the next week.

Dr BK Upadhyay, joint commissioner of police, traffic, said, “At least 1,300 traffic policemen will be deployed across the city. Two hundred of the policemen will be given handy cameras and mobile phones with cameras to keep track of passing vehicles.”

The rest of the team will conduct checks at 70 sensitive points, along with the police personnel. They will check for drunk motorists and those violating traffic regulations to ensure there are no accidents on New Year’s Eve, said an official from the traffic police department, on condition of anonymity, as he is not authorised to speak to the media.

“We will review the recorded footage look for the drivers found to be flouting the law. After compiling a list of registration numbers and making a defaulters’ list, they will be served challans,” said Upadhyay.

There are 229 CCTV cameras installed across the city, but the footage from most of them is not clear enough to provide the registration numbers of the vehicles. Around 100 of the 229 CCTV cameras belong to the traffic police department and the live feed is monitored by policemen in the traffic control room.

An officer said, “Some points near nakabandis are not guarded by CCTVs and the policemen carrying handy cams will help the police operation during the drive.”