'Traffic police should be able to prosecute'

Many experts are of the opinion that it would help the traffic police if they have an independent prosecution wing as they would then not have to depend upon the local police.

Many experts are of the opinion that it would help the traffic police if they have an independent prosecution wing as they would then not have to depend upon the local police.

HT Image

YP Singh, former IPS officer, who is now a lawyer, said that like the Anti-Corruption Bureau that prosecutes its cases independent of the police, the traffic police must also be empowered. “Local police stations are generally very busy and don’t treat non-fatal drink-driving cases as priority, despite the fact that there have been many cases of drink driving of late,” he said.

Besides, the traffic police get step-motherly treatment from local police stations. “The more the levels and stages, the more is the delay. An independent prosecution wing would help cut down red tapism and help them prosecute cases faster and make enforcement more effective.”

Satish Maneshinde, a lawyer, said that with the current spate of drink-driving accidents, the need for the traffic police to have an independent prosecution wing is becoming urgent. He pointed out that the Central Bureau of Investigation has an independent prosecution wing.

“People in general don’t have any regard for the law. But with the prosecution wing, cases will be tried faster and there will be more convictions, which I believe will bring more discipline on the roads,” Maneshinde said.

Apart from this, the laws need to be made more stringent so that they force people to think twice before getting behind the wheel after drinking and violating traffic rules.