Bengaluru: Caught wheeling? Get ready for jail

Bengaluru: With rise in cases of wheeling and drag racing on the city’s main roads, the police have decided to deal with the menace firmly on a priority basis and impose stringent punishment to offenders.

They plan to constitute anti-wheeling and drag racing squads in every traffic police station and each squad will be headed by an assistant sub-inspector (ASI).

The squads will be formed in two months and they will move around in plainclothes and be stationed in areas notorious for such activities.

They will take action against those indulging in dangerous stunts, which not only endanger their own lives but that of other motorists. The offenders will be sent to jail, their licences blacklisted and their vehicles seized.

In a recently held meeting with the traffic police personnel, in which Additional
Commissioner (Traffic) Harishekaran took part, it was noted that the wheeling and racing among the youth and college going students has increased and they often do it during daytime, and on main roads and busy stretches.

A traffic police inspector, who was present at the meeting, said, “Every day the control room receives around 50 to 70 calls about wheeling and racing, which also includes reckless riding and driving. But it is a difficult to nab them immediately. If the caller provides us with the vehicle registration number, then we can track them. But mostly the caller provides details regarding the area and street name, but not the registration number. This makes it difficult for us to nab them.”

“During the meeting, we informed senior police officers that the wheeling menace needs to be addressed immediately, as they get numerous calls from public. The Commissioner directed the inspectors to form anti-wheeling squad in every police station and ensure that these teams are on the streets keeping an eye on wheeling, racing or reckless riding and driving. They can stop the offender and seize the vehicle and documents and take the offender to the police station and register a FIR,” added the inspector.

The inspector further mentioned that once the FIR is registered, the offender can be sentto jail and the vehicle will be seized for life time and his driving licence will be blacklisted. Once it is done, then that person can no way get another licence.

He further added, “We are talking to RTO officers and have informed them about the plan and they have assured to work towards its implementation.”