Punishing errant drivers: We’re at it, say traffic police
The Mumbai Traffic police claim that they penalise hundreds of autorickshaw and taxi drivers a day for refusing passengers but commuters complain that the problem continues.
The Mumbai Traffic police claim that they penalise hundreds of autorickshaw and taxi drivers a day for refusing passengers but commuters complain that the problem continues.
A driver, who refuses to ferry a passenger can be fined Rs 200 and the traffic police can also suspend his licence. Commuters can lodge complaints on the traffic police’s website or their Facebook web page.
The traffic police say they have succeeded in creating awareness among commuters and citizens have been posting complaints against errant auto and taxi drivers on Facebook regularly.
Nandkumar Chowgule, deputy commissioner of police (traffic), said the department penalises more than 300 drivers every day.
“We call them to the traffic police headquarters and then take them to the RTO [Regional Transport Office] for further action,” Chougule said.
“We have also started educating the drivers to not refuse a fare.”
Traffic police officers said when they receive a complaint, they approach the RTO concerned for the drivers’ addresses but many addresses turn out to be fake.
“It is a tedious process because the RTO takes more than 15 days to give us the addresses,” said an officer requesting anonymity because he is not authorised to speak to the media.
Additional commissioner of police (traffic) Brijesh Singh said: “Commuters are welcome to lodge complaints against errant auto or taxi drivers and we assure them those drivers will be prosecuted.”