BTP escalates crackdown on offenders with outstanding fines, urges swift compliance for safer roads

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: Bengaluru Traffic Police has escalated its efforts to enhance road safety and enforce traffic regulations by intensifying the crackdown on vehicle owners with outstanding fines exceeding Rs 50,000.

Joint Commissioner of Police M.N. Anucheth announced the implementation of this proactive measure, revealing the identification of over 120 such vehicle owners within the city.

Anucheth emphasised the pressing need for enforcement action as Bengaluru currently records 2,681 vehicles with pending fines surpassing Rs 50,000.

To address this issue, the traffic police are actively tracing the addresses of these vehicle owners, intending to issue notices for the payment of outstanding fines.

Anucheth stressed the importance of accountability, especially for vehicles that have changed ownership but retained outstanding fines from previous ownership.

Non-compliance with the notice will lead to the submission of a charge sheet to the court against both the vehicle and its owner, initiating legal proceedings.

The Joint Commissioner underscored the gravity of the consequences for noncompliance, urging vehicle owners to promptly settle their fines to avoid legal action.

In addition to the crackdown on outstanding fines, Anucheth issued a reminder about the mandatory use of helmets, highlighting that exemptions are only granted to children below the age of six.

He discouraged the transportation of school children without helmets, emphasising the paramount importance of prioritising safety on the roads. Responding to the surge in traffic violations in Bengaluru, the traffic police conducted a series of special operations targeting offenders.

Over three days, these operations resulted in fines totalling approximately Rs 16 lakh.

Notable initiatives included crackdowns on traffic violations in college and school zones, as well as targeting water tanker tractors and auto-rickshaws flouting traffic rules.

Motorists are strongly urged by the BPT to adhere to traffic regulations to contribute to a safer and more orderly traffic environment in the city.