Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Use your cellphone, but lose driver's licence

MUMBAI: Despite a seven-month old-circular issued by the state transport department instructing all Regional Transport Offices (RTOs) to disqualify the licences of motorists caught talking on cellphones while driving, no action has been taken to date, say senior police officials.

In an effort to rectify this, senior traffic officials will be meeting members of the state Law and Judiciary Department on Tuesday to demand stricter implementation of the existing law. Between October 2009 and March 2010, 1,186 licences of motorists pulled up for driving and operating their mobile phones were sent to the RTO, but not a single one was cancelled or suspended.

"We do not have the power to disqualify the driving licences of offenders. After a driver is caught violating the rule, we send his licence to the morning court," said DCP Nandkumar Chaugule. "The court either fines the driver or suspends his/her licence for a period of time. Once the licences are returned to us, we forward a photocopy of to the RTO. But to date, the RTOs haven't disqualified any driver." 

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