Pune police to act against drunk driving

The city police have decided to deploy plainclothes policemen with walkie-talkies at party venues across the city so they can inform the nearest police team if they spot someone driving after getting drunk.

For the first time, the city traffic police have also decided to act firmly against the pillion rider if he or she riding with a drunk rider in the city. The same rule would also apply to passengers traveling with a drunk four-wheeler driver.

This decision was been taken, as more than 353 drink-and-drive cases were recorded in 2011 in different parts of the city. The traffic police have expressed concern over the rising number of such cases.

The traffic police began their special drive against drunk driving on December 22 in which they recorded 405 cases. A total of 730 cases have been registered so far in the city.

The traffic police will take action against people under Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. If someone is arrested for drinking and driving, he or she would be punished under section 185 (Driving by a drunken person or by a persons under the influence of drugs) of Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.

Senior police inspector Vijaykumar Pansule (administration) told DNA, “For the first time, we have taken decision against the pillion rider or others who are travelling in a car with drunken driver under 188 (Punishment for abetment of certain offences) of Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. The cases have been increased though we had taken enough precautions,’’ he said.

According to Pansule, the violators would be arrested and produced before the court and their driving licences seized. He said people who drive two-wheelers without silencers or carry more than one pillion rider on the bikes will be fined.

He said during festivals, several cases of traffic violation are reported.

If traffic police arrest someone for drunk driving, he or she will be produced in the court under 185 (Driving by a drunken person or by a person under the influence of drugs) of Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.

Under the rules, whoever, while driving, or attempting to drive, a motor vehicle,-(a) has, in his blood, alcohol exceeding 30 mg. per 100 ml. of blood detected in a test by a breath analyser, or (b) is under this influence of a drug to such an extent as to be incapable of exercising proper control over the vehicle, shall be punishable for the first offence with imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine which may extend to two thousand rupees, or with both.

For a second or subsequent offence, if committed within three years of the commission of the previous similar offence, with imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine which may extend to Rs3,000, or with both.

In 2010, 2914 cases were recorded of drunk driving which increased to 3,267 in 2011.