Driving drunk? pay fine Rs 5,000

Driving drunk? pay fine Rs 5,000

Traffic department’s proposal to state government

PAY UP: The traffic police believe the current fine does not deter drunk drivers enough. pic used for representation only

Your late-night tipple may burn a bigger hole in your pocket than you imagined. To further deter drunk drivers, the traffic department has proposed to the state that the fine be increased to Rs 5,000. Presently it varies between Rs 100 and Rs 2,000, as decided by the court. Vijay Kamble, Jt Commissioner of Police (Traffic), said the fines collected now are not enough, compared to the number of offences.

The department had given the proposal earlier too, but was not taken seriously. S M Sabde, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic, Suburbs) said, “The offences are increasing day by day just because the fine amount is very little. A 100 or 200-rupee fine doesn’t make any difference to people.”

Similarly, the fine for not wearing helmet is Rs 100 but the proposed fine is Rs 2,000. “If we collect more fine and can bring some more strict laws, offences will surely lessen,” added Sabde.

Deputy Chief Minister R R Patil favoured the proposal, but added, “Before increasing the fine, we have to educate the people about it. Our aim is not to earn money but to avoid accidents.”

Punishments in other countries:

Australia: The names of drunk drivers are printed in newspapers under the caption, “He’s drunk and in jail.”

Malaysia: The driver is jailed and, if married, the spouse is jailed.

UK, Finland, Sweden: There is an automatic jail term of one year.

Turkey: Drunk drivers are driven twenty miles out of town and forced to walk back ten miles.

Salvador: Your first offense is your last — execution by firing squad.

Norway: Three weeks in jail at hard labor, one-year loss of license.


** ALWAYS DRIVE SAFELY **