Random check: Cops test people’s patience

Bangalore: The random and frequent checks for vehicle documents by traffic police at various points in the city during daytime, is causing hardships to motorists.

“The traffic police selects commuters according to their whims and fancies, irrespective of the fact whether you have violated any rule or not. I was on my way to hospital when I was stopped for no reason.

Despite producing the relevant documents and pleading them to allow me to leave soon, they kept on delaying. In fact, they were figuring out ways to impose a fine on me. Under such circumstances, whom should the common man approach to complain about these bullying traffic policemen,” said Sandeepan G, a software engineer.

In 2009, the then Additional Commissioner of police (traffic) Praveen Sood had issued written directions to traffic personnel against unnecessary checking of documents — to keep both road and motorists hassle-free. In fact, he categorically instructed that a motorist should be stopped only when he has committed some visible traffic violation.

It is mandatory for the motorists to carry the master card and emission certificate, but one need not carry other documents. But policemen are penalizing motorists for not carrying other documents, despite carrying master card.

“Last Monday, I was not carrying my documents but I had my master card. I asked the traffic constable to give me the chalan. Initially, without the chalan he demanded Rs 300, but when I insisted for the chalan he made a spot fine of Rs 100,” said Sharath Ganapathy, a lawyer.

Voicing similar opinion, Raj G, a BPO employee residing in Adogodi said, “I follow the traffic rules religiously. Despite that I was stopped while others riding beside me was not. “Finally, they had to let go of me as I had all the documents in place.”

Additional Commissioner (Traffic) B Dayanand told Deccan Chronicle, “As per the norm, a person should be stopped only when he is seen violating any traffic rule. But if he is wrongfully stopped and fined, he can definitely lodge a complaint at 103 and we will take action.”

As for random checks, traffic expert M N Sreehari said, “The traffic police can stop anyone when there is a suspicion. Random checks are possible when they are directed to do so. For instance, sometimes they are ordered to check all the vehicles ending with number 1.”