Pause for penalty points rule

Enforcement teams seek time as separate data base needs to be put in place

The Telangana Govern ment may have released a government order on April 24 regarding the penalty points’ system, but enforcement teams are likely to need more time before they introduce the system. The delay will be due to lack of infrastructure, database and courts’ directions on a few e-challans earlier.

The GO was released by modifying Motor Vehicle Rule 45 (A), but officials from traffic wing found that a few changes are needed before it’s implementation. The new system enables the Transport Department to cancel the driving licences of motorists who get more than 12 penalty points in a period of 24 months. That particular motorist’s driving licence will be blocked for two years.

The order comprises pena lty types such as driving without seatbelt, overspeeding/racing, drunken driving, carrying more passengers and so on. As per the GO, penalty points shou ld be given to the driver/ motorist, not the owner of the vehicle.

But officials say that a separate data base is needed and both the RTA and Traffic Police should work on it. Till a comprehensive database is readied, officials plan to educate motorists on the new rule.

Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic) V. Ravinder said they would implement the order in a phased manner. “We are holding sessions to educate motorists in the initial stage and after beginning implementation of the new rule, we may observe impediments and will rectify them from timeto-time,” he said.

The new system also requires visible policing and frequent checking to identify traffic violators. Before implementation of the e-challan system, the Hyderabad city traffic police used to generate about 500 challans per day during physical inspections. The e-challan system gets at least 3,000 challans per day. Another official said penalty points might not be given to motorists based on evidence courtesy CCTV footage.

“Earlier, during a petition filed by a woman advocate, the high court directed not to impose penalties based on CCTV cameras as the drivers may not be owners of the vehicles. CCTV can be used for generating e-cha llan for violation of rules. We send challans to the add ress of motor vehicles bas ed on the database available with RTA. We can’t identify drivers and their driving lic ence details to implement the new rule. Offline enfor cement is needed for the new rule,” the official said.