Bangalore cops to name, shame drunk drivers on website

Mangalore Today News Network

Bangalore, March 17, 2014:The website of the Bangalore City Traffic Police will soon have a virtual “hall of shame” that gives names and details of people booked for drunk driving.

The police have decided to implement a similar model followed by their Australian counterparts to curb the increasing number of drunk driving cases. “We will soon follow the Australian model to make road users stay away from liquor before driving,” Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic and Security) B Dayananda told Deccan Herald.
“The Australian police send the names and pictures of those involved in drunk driving cases to local newspapers. We will publish names and details of offenders on the website (www.bangaloretrafficpolice.gov.in) so that everybody would know them. We believe such a step would create some sort of fear among road users so that they will not dare repeat the offence,” he added.

He said the City has been seeing a rise in drunk driving cases despite special drives and frequent checks. “The liberal provisions of the Motor Vehicle Act are also partly responsible for it. The traffic police have studied legal provisions in different countries and recommended the government for stringent punishment,” he added.

According to a list prepared by the Bangalore Police, drunk driving in El Salvador is punishable with execution by firing squad, whereas second conviction for the offence leads to execution in Bulgaria. Poland has jail, fine and attending political lectures! Malaya jails the offender. If married, the spouse is also jailed.

Turkey takes the offender 10 miles out of town and makes them walk back under escort. South Africa has 10-year imprisonment or fine up to $10,000. In Norway, the offender is jailed for three weeks with hard labour, whereas loss of driving licence attracts one-year jail. Second offence ensures revoking of licence for life.

In India, a case is booked under Section 185 of the MV Act. It has a provision for imprisonment of up to six months or fine up to Rs 2,000 for the first offence. The second offence attracts imprisonment up to two years and fine up to Rs 3,000. Judiciary decides the quantum of punishment.

 

Couresty:Deccan Herald