Drink and drive - your licence could be cancelled

Drink and drive - your licence could be cancelled

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, June 2, 2014:     To this point in time,  Mangalore traffic police  recommend to the Regional Transport Office the suspension of driving licences only in case of fatal accidents.

According to the information furnished by the Mangalore traffic division, the total number of accident cases in which the traffic police have recommended the Mangalore RTO to suspend the licences in last four years is 71, while no drunken drive cases were referred for cancellation of licence.

In a move that could put great fear in to those who drive vehicles under the influence of alcohol, the Mangalore City Police has decided to suspend the licence of the offenders in ’drink drive’ cases.  Equipped with more breathalysers to test the alcohol content, the Mangalore police will be soon following the footsteps of their Bangalore counterparts. The Bangalore City Police began suspending the driving licences in drunken driving cases in March 2014 using the provisions under the Motor Vehicles Act. The strict implementation of the existing law by withdrawing the licence of even the first time offenders intends to control the increasing instances of drunken driving.

At present in drink n drive cases, there is no system of spot fine. Police notice is issued to the offender to appear before the court and the court is empowered to impose the fine. The penalty imposed for the first time offender is Rs 1,000 and second time offender is Rs 2,000. However, there have been no instances of police tracking down habitual offenders in drunk n drive cases. The city police have booked 124 drunk drivers  in 2014, 321 cases in 2013, 361 cases in 2012 and 522 cases in 2011.

Speaking to the press , Assistant Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Uday Nayak said that the city police will soon start the initiative of recommending to the RTO to suspend and seize the licences in drunk drive cases. Imposing penalty has had no impact on those who drive the vehicles under the influence of alcohol. “The city police so far had only  2 breathalysers  to test the alcohol content. With our division receiving 6 more breathalysers last week, it will help us to identify and test more number of drunken drivers. The police will spring into action in some of the important junctions in the city to monitor and check the drivers, specially on week ends,” he said.

Regional Transport Officer Afzal Ahmed Khan said that after impounding the licence of the offender in drunk drive cases, the police will recommend it to the RTO and the RTO can suspend it for a specific time without waiting for the court order. “If the court convicts the offender, then his licence will be suspended  for a longer period and if the person is acquitted, then the licence will be released in a month or two,” he said. The number of gory road accidents are  rapidly on the increase and one main culprit found is ’Alcohol’ it is well past the time that drastic preventive measures are put in place. So ’Mangalore Today’ makes a serious appeal,  please do not consume any kind or quantity of alcohol and take the wheel or sit on a bike please.