Ever Caught by Traffic Police? Rights And Regulations One Must Know

A country with the rise of urbanization and a large population needs to manage systematic Traffic rules and Laws.

Published on:

30 Sep 2021, 3:47 am

Caught by Traffic Police? Rights and Law one must know

With a large number of populations, jammed roads in India are very common. The sight of arguments between motorists and traffic police is often visible on Indian roads. As the country is growing towards urbanization with an increase in the number of vehicles, in such a case the role of Traffic management authorities is very significant to maintain the violations regarding traffic rules. The citizens also need to be aware of the matter for the better development of the country; therefore certain rights and laws have been made to get rid of traffic police by maintaining decorum and those laws need to be kept in mind while being headed over by the traffic authorities on violating the norms of traffic.

Some of the responsibilities of a traffic Policeman

• The traffic police have all the right to question any person driving on the road and can point out those under suspicion to check their documents of the vehicle.

• A traffic policeman usually go through the driving license without any reason as it is an essential document that needs to be carried while driving. The traffic police also check all the other important documents and papers including Motor Insurance, registration certificate and PUC.

Solution: One should always carry a driving license along with all the original and authentic copies of the documents related to the particular vehicle while driving at any time and anywhere.

• On being caught without a driving license and other vehicle documents while driving, the traffic police in such case has all the authority to ask for a fine and may also arrest the person.

• In case of violation of the traffic rules and regulations the traffic police can seized that vehicle's necessary documents also the driving license. At first, the traffic policeman will give an acknowledgement receipt stating the circumstances of documents being seized which will be temporary.

Solution: One may get into trouble if the documents are seized by fake traffic police, so it is very much important to check and verify the identification of the in-charge officer before submitting the documents to him. The easiest way to identify traffic police is by checking the badge on the uniform as this is something worn by every traffic policeman.

• A traffic police has full authority to maintain the proceedings and movements of the vehicles in those areas where the traffic lights are not properly managed, in areas where traffic lights are broken and impaired. In that situation, the public needs to follow the instructions of the traffic police and it is even the responsibility of the citizens to maintain order by following traffic police.

Solution: Sometimes it can be seen that there are no traffic police in some crossings with inappropriate traffic lights, at that time one should try to provide the information to the traffic authorities through e-mail or try to reach them physically.

• One must be very much careful in maintaining their speed of driving and in following the traffic lights. If the speed crosses the limit the traffic police have complete right to arrest that person, seized the vehicle in any situation, they may also arrest if someone ignores the red light and try to skip it.

• Driving being drunk and with the effect of banned drugs could lead to major difficulty as it is totally the means of a violation of the traffic rules. The traffic police don't require a warrant to arrest someone found in such conditions.

Solution: Under a situation of being uncomfortable with driving or under the influence of alcohol, being drunken or possessing drugs, one should try to contact someone they know to reach their home safely or should hire a cab for help but should not drive by oneself.

Several duties about which the motorists of the country could be unaware:

• Following the traffic lights, the signboards and the instructions of the police deployed in traffic is the responsibility of the citizens. It is a major duty to stick to the traffic rules as we use the motorways of our city and share with fellow passengers and travellers.

• Ever being asked by traffic police to stop or slow down your vehicle and being called on the side of the road, in such case, it needs to be followed as it is the responsibility of the one who drives. He/she should immediately press the indicators of the vehicle and park the vehicle at the side part of the road as asked or otherwise someone if tries to escape from that situation will only create trouble making suspicion.

• Sometimes people mistakenly get engaged in violating traffic rules, in that case, they must apologize for their mistake genuinely and there could be a possibility that traffic police may allow leaving with a strict warning. But sometimes the traffic police may not let you go and in that case, you should ask him for a challan to pay the fine. In a situation where you are unable to pay the fine, the officer shall immediately seize the documents and you then have to appear in court, the court shall schedule a meeting and on missing the court's meeting deadline, an arrest warrant against you might be produced.

• The Policeman in the Traffic while seizing the documents related to the vehicle and also the driving license needs to provide an acknowledgement slip and if not one should definitely ask for it.

• Trying to bribe a police officer can lead to punishment as ethics doesn't allow for this and it is a punishable crime according to the law.

Traffic laws prevailed in India:

• One needs to pay Rs. 100 as fine if found in the parking lot blocking the gate to exit.

• An unnecessary horn on the vehicle leads to paying a fine in India.

• In the Delhi area of the NRC, it is a crime to smoke inside the car.

• In Kolkatta, one is being fined on parking close to the areas of the public utility facilities like Water supply, Public transportation, Telephone services, Natural gas, etc.