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10,000 booked for drunken driving
More and more Vizagites are driving under the influence of alcohol. The counselling centre at the traffic wing of the commissionerate is swelling with people who have been booked for drunken driving. The department conducts counselling for these accused thrice a week on Wednesday and Saturday. At least 150 persons attend the centre every week and the number is swelling every month.
Visakhapatnam: More and more Vizagites are driving under the influence of alcohol. The counselling centre at the traffic wing of the commissionerate is swelling with people who have been booked for drunken driving. The department conducts counselling for these accused thrice a week on Wednesday and Saturday. At least 150 persons attend the centre every week and the number is swelling every month.
Highlights:
- Deputy commissioner of police (traffic) K Mahendra Patrudu says 10,805 people are booked from January 1 to June 30 this year and of them 235 were sent to jail and 835 let off with fine
- Many are sent to jail and 36 persons irrespective of age and status are put on traffic duties. Interestingly, these people carried placards advising people not to drive under influence of alcohol and to wear seat belts in case of cars and helmets for two-wheelers
Deputy commissioner of police (traffic) K Mahendra Patrudu said 10,805 people were booked from January 1 to June 30 this year and of them 235 were sent to jail and 835 let off with fine. An amount of Rs 63.8 lakh was collected in just six months. The number of cases and fine is the highest in Andhra Pradesh.
“We are taking drunken driving seriously compared to previous years. We have check points all over the city and not letting off anybody. Even drinking in seaside dhabas have also been curtailed as we found that many people driving home under the influence of alcohol as the beach roads are deserted after 11 pm,’’ Patrudu said.
He said many people were sent to jail and 36 persons irrespective of age and status were put on traffic duties. Interestingly, these people carried placards advising people not to drive under influence of alcohol and to wear seat belts in case of cars and helmets for two wheelers.
But ground reports said jail term for three days and traffic duties in hot summer is not deterring the accused. In fact, they were caught again after getting punished by the court.
“I have been booked for third time. I cannot stop drinking till my problems are solved,’’ said 28-year-old Satish (name changed) who works at Pharma City as a technician. On all the occasions, he was caught at Gajuwaka Junction, close to his home.
The average age of the people who attended the counselling centre on Saturday will be around 25 years. Most of them were autorickshaw drivers and those engaged in field work driving motorcycles.
In the month of May this year, the Third Metropolitan Magistrate Court Ramya Chavala convicted over 70 persons on a single day. She found a novel punishment-sentencing 36 of them perform traffic duties at main junctions like Jagadamaba , Daba Gardens and Gajuwaka.
“Many motorists resume drinking after undergoing punishment presuming that they will not be caught again. But we surprise them every time,’’ Patrudu said.
By KMP Patnaik
