Soon, traffic constables in the State will be armed with a high-tech device that will have a voice recorder, a camera and previous records of traffic violations of every vehicle.
The e-challaning device will also eliminate the possibility of any ‘outside settlement’ with the traffic policeman as once he enters the amount of fine; it will be fed in a central record system. The traffic constable will have to collect that particular amount from the defaulter.
The device, which will be in size of a tablet or a mini iPad, will first be launched in the state capital on a trial basis. If all goes well, the e-challaning device will be distributed among traffic constables in other parts of the state too. Roughly, a device will come at a cost of `35,000. However, the device could be custom made and the price will vary according to the demand of the traffic department.
Confirming that such a proposal is in pipeline, Additional Superintendent of Police (traffic) Balram Hirwani said that it would revolutionise the functioning of policemen and empower them.
The most important feature of this device will be that it will be connected to a centralised data base.If a constable enters a vehicle number, the device will show all the details related to the vehicle. Record of repeated offenders could be viewed by the constable immediately. This will also help to ascertain whether a vehicle is stolen. For example, if a vehicle owner has been caught for rash driving, the trafficman can check whether this is his first offence or not.
Not only will the device make the challaning process paperless, it will also arm the constables with more powers. The device will come with a recorder fitted inside it. Whenever a defaulter misbehaves or argues with a traffic constable, he could switch on the recorder and save the voice clipping which will serve as a proof against the offender.
The device will also have the facility where one can swipe their ATM or credit card to pay the fine.Similarly, the device will also have a camera to capture an offender’s face or his vehicle number.
“Although the process is in its initial stage, response from the Traffic Department is encouraging and persuasive and I hope the project will see light of the day within one year,” said Khalique Quraishi, Key Account Manager of the company who will supply these devices to the Traffic Department.This system of e-challan was launched in Delhi in August, 2013 and is also functional in parts of Kerala and Andhra Pradesh.