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ShareBangalore: Motorists, relax. You will now be spared the trouble of being unnecessarily stopped while driving and checked for documents by traffic policemen, unless you have violated some traffic rule.But this does not imply that public should not carry original documents.
The city traffic police state that everybody should carry all original documents, failing which one can obtain a master card which certifies that a person has valid documents.
Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Praveen Sood told DNA that the Bangalore city traffic police have been asked to shift their focus to following the mandate of ensuring that people do not violate road rules, rather than merely stopping people to check documents.
"Police should not unnecessarily check documents unless the person has committed a visible traffic violation. This should not be misconstrued that one need not carry documents at all. People should carry all original documents,'' said Sood.
A traffic policeman can stop you if you have committed any of the offenses that fall under the 32 categories, including drink driving, signal jumping, overspeeding and not wearing a helmet.
Admitting that the public do not usually carry original documents due to various reasons, including the fear of losing it, Sood said they were also under the impression that the traffic policemen would keep the originals and not give an acknowledgement or that it is cumbersome to carry it.
"We cannot change the law, which does state that original documents have to be carried. The first thing we check for when a person has violated a rule is the driving licence and insurance certificate. The registration certificate usually is not a priority, but, motorists should carry it, especially when they are caught violating a rule, as all documents are checked,'' he said.
He said copies of the documents would not be considered as valid adding that the master card, that is being issued by RTO authorities, is the only solution for people who do not want to carry all the original documents. "This provision is being made by the RTO for all ages. But, unfortunately only one per cent of the population is aware of this. People should go ahead and acquire this card by producing all valid documents. After verification, the RTO will provide a master card,'' he said.
Sood added that if a traffic policeman stops a rider or driver for just checking documents, the person can mention the new instruction given to officers. "If there is any argument, the person can lodge a complaint online,'' said Sood.
