Hyderabad: For now, cops not to take spot fines

Hyderabad: There is temporary relief for traffic rule violators, with the traffic police issuing orders to suspend the drive against collecting pending challans. This will be in place until lower denomination currency is easily available.

Cases will be booked against motorists violating the traffic rules. e-challans will continue to be issued. Spot challans will also be issued but the police will not insist on immediate payment.

Deputy commissioner of police (traffic), A.V. Ranganath, said the decision was taken in view of the demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes and shortage of lower denomination currency in the market.

Normally, traffic police issues spot challans for violations such as not wearing helmets, jumping signals, triple riding, rash driving. At that  time, they also check on their hand-held equipment for any pending challans against the motorists.

In case there are more than three challans pending, the vehicle is detained and the motorist is asked to go to a Mee Seva centre or traffic police counter or pay online at least two to three pending challans and take the vehicle back.

Traffic cops said their focus for next few days would be regulating traffic at banks and post offices, in addition to the main and secondary roads.