RTOs continue drive against tampered meters

On Monday, the Wadala RTO registered 20 cases of tampered meters in the eastern suburbs, at Ghatkopar, Lokmanya Tilak Terminus and Tilak Nagar.

The two suburban Regional Transport Offices (RTO) are continuing with the crackdown on autos running on tampered meters.

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On Monday, the Wadala RTO registered 20 cases of tampered meters in the eastern suburbs, at Ghatkopar, Lokmanya Tilak Terminus and Tilak Nagar.

So far this month the Wadala RTO has inspected more than 400 autos of which 208 have been booked. A penalty of Rs 85,000 has been collected.

The Andheri RTO has so far inspected 217 autos of which 135 were booked, and a fine of Rs 41,700 has been collected.

“Meter tampering is rampant so we have been conducting daily drives since the first week of December. More than half the meters we inspect have been tampered with and are running fast,” said an official from Wadala RTO, requesting anonymity.

While the Andheri RTO is confiscating the meters, the Wadala RTO is prosecuting the auto owners and drivers at the magistrate’s court.

The Maharashtra Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, has the provision for the prosecution of the permit and licence holders in a magistrate first class court for charging commuters more than the regular fare. So far 32 people have been prosecuted.