Regular awareness campaigns on the ill-effects of drink driving have borne fruits with fewer such cases being registered on New Year's Eve.
The traffic police caught 301 drunk drivers and collected a fine of Rs6 lakh on December 31. Ninety per cent of those caught were bikers.
In 2010 and 2011, 677 and 436 cases of drink driving were registered across Thane region.
Officials, who were on duty from 8pm (Monday) to 4am (Tuesday), caught all those driving under the influence of alcohol. Cases have been registered against them under the Motor Vehicle Act.
"Since Angarika Chaturthi was observed on Tuesday, many people were fasting and could not eat or drink after midnight. Also, the death of the Delhi gang-rape victim had shocked several people who chose to stay indoors," said Dr Shrikant Paropkari, deputy commissioner of police (traffic division).
The data available with the traffic department reveals that maximum number of drink-driving cases were registered in Dombivli (45) and the least in Vishnunagar (6).
The police have booked the offenders under section 185 of the Motor Vehicle Act (driving under the influence of alcohol). They will be produced in court on January 3.
Citizens bid a quiet goodbye to 2012
In keeping with the tradition, there were fewer cases of noise pollution in the city on New Year's Eve. Riotous revellers have toned down their acts. Citizen activists, who had been monitoring noise levels in Wagle Estate, Naupada and Kapurbawdi, said since most revellers arranged indoor parties, the noise level on the streets had drastically reduced.
To pay tribute to the Delhi gang-rape victim, several people chose not to party on the streets.
"In a few areas, some residents burst firecrackers and played loud music at midnight, but these were stray cases. This year, the police had also tightened patrolling on the streets, so most revellers, especially the youth, remained indoors," said Hoshedar Bagli, a activist.
According to activists, the noise levels in most areas did not exceed the set limit of 45 decibels at night.
Even in silence zones — in the vicinity of hospitals and educational institutes — there were very few violations.
However, Awaaz Foundation, a city-based anti-noise non-governmental organisation, has asked residents to file a complaint with the anti-noise pollution activists or with their local police station if they had suffered blaring loudspeakers or the rumbling of crackers.
