As the year draws to a close, the traffic control branch of city police is preparing for a renewed drive against drink driving before Christmas that would go on until new year.
So far in 2012, the city traffic police registered 3,540 cases of drink driving. The number has already crossed the cases filed by traffic police last year. In 2011, traffic police recorded 3,267 cases of drink driving and in 2010, it was 2,914. Police said rigorous action against drunken drivers led to the increase in number of cases filed this year.
Major drives against drink driving are carried out during the new year eve as people tend to consume alcohol during new year parties and then drive home. Last year, over 750 cases of drink driving were registered between December 22 and 31.
We conducted drives against drunk drivers at periodic intervals in different parts of the city during the year too. Most of the offenders were two-wheeler riders. The drive will continue this month, said deputy commissioner of police (Traffic) Vishwas Pandhare.
Last year, the police had also taken action against pillion riders found drunk. An offence is registered against those whose alcohol consumption is confirmed during breath analyser test. Offenders are booked under Section 188 (punishment for abetment of certain offences) of Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.
Offenders are arrested and produced before court. Their driving licences are seized and they are released after payment of fine up to Rs 2,000. If the fine is not paid, the person may face imprisonment for six months. If a person commits the same offence again within three years, the fine may go up to Rs 3,000.
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