Fines too small to deter motorists in Bengaluru

Bengaluru: With the city woefully short of parking space, it’s a common sight to see vehicles parked on the pavements, thereby inconveniencing the pedestrians. Though the traffic police do seize such vehicles, but police officials admit the fine is too paltry to be deterrent.

In residential areas there are numerous instances of citizens cornering pavement space to park their two-wheelers. Some even go to the extent of parking their four-wheelers.

According to R. Hitendra, Addl Commissioner of Police (Traffic), “We are fining and seizing vehicles parked on pavements. The fine at the moment is just Rs 100, which I feel is not much of deterrence. But increasing fines is not in the police’s hands.”

On TenderSure roads, the police have been instructed to file FIR’s under Section 283 of the Indian Penal Code against erring  owners who park their vehicles on pavements. Section 283 states that, “Danger or obstruction in public way or line of navigation - whoever, by doing any act, or by omitting to take order with any property in his possession or under his charge, causes danger, obstruction or injury to any person in any public way or public line of navigation, shall be punished with fine which may extend to Rs 200.”

Experts are of the opinion that besides the fine, the defaulter must be made to pay in the form of time as well. Civic evangelist V. Ravichander said, “Besides being made to pay the fine, the defaulter’s vehicle must also be towed away and they should be made to pay through their noses by making them run around to get their vehicles back. Only such harsh measures will work as deterrence.”

It is absolutely wrong to park vehicles on pavements. They are meant for pedestrians not vehicles, he added.