The Commissionerate Traffic police on Sunday strictly enforced the new guidelines under the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act 2019 in the city and collected fines as high as 10 times the earlier stipulated penalties.
Traffic regulation violators like bikers riding without helmets, motorists driving without seat belts and those talking on mobiles phones, triple riders and those cross the Zebra Crossings were intercepted by the Traffic cops at AG Square and other important intersections had to shell out thousands of rupees as fines.
Even the driver of ‘Mo Bus’ had to pay a fine for crossing a Zebra Crossing.
Most of the city residents have welcomed the move and hoped that it would make the roads safer and streamline the chaotic traffic. They said as the violators now have to pay hefty fines, they would think a number of times before flouting the traffic rules.
“While I understand that the penalties are very high but it is a very good move because people would be scared or at least think 10 times before violating traffic rules. Who would want to pay Rs 5,000 for not having a driving licence or Rs 25,000 for a minor found driving,” said a resident Tushar Prusty.