Daijiworld Media Network- Bengaluru
Bengaluru, Jun 1: In a stern response to rising public concern over unsafe traffic enforcement practices — especially after the tragic death of a child during a vehicle check in Mandya — Karnataka’s Director General and Inspector General of Police (DGP-IGP), Dr M A Saleem, has issued a decisive circular curbing reckless traffic stop practices.
The circular, released on Saturday, mandates that no vehicle shall be intercepted without visible traffic rule violations, and key snatching or sudden halting of moving vehicles is now strictly prohibited. The directive aims to ensure road safety and accountability during vehicle inspections by traffic police.
Highlights of the DGP’s new instructions:
1. No random checks: Police are prohibited from stopping vehicles solely to check documents unless a clear traffic violation is visible.
2. Stop only with cause: Checks should only be conducted if a visible offence is committed. During such inspections:
No zigzag barricading on highways.
No sudden darting into roads to stop vehicles.
No grabbing pillion riders or snatching vehicle keys.
3. Ban on vehicle chases: Speeding motorists should not be chased. Instead, police should record the registration number and register a case accordingly.
4. Mandatory safety gear: All officers must wear reflective jackets, carry LED batons during evening checks, and use body-worn cameras.
5. Use of technology: The traffic management centre and ITMS units must conduct contactless enforcement using technology.
6. Public awareness drive: An outreach campaign will be launched to educate the public about adherence to traffic rules.
7. No interception on highways: Under no circumstance should high-speed vehicles be intercepted on national/state highways. Cases must be filed based on STVR (Speed Traffic Violation Recording) systems.
8. Precautionary measures at checkpoints: Police must set up reflective cones and safety markers at least 100-150 metres before any check-post.
9. Safer night checks: Vehicle inspections, if necessary, should be held near traffic junctions or signals at night.
10. Law and order police barred from roadblocks: Officers assigned to law and order duties should not conduct traffic roadblocks on highways. For safety, such tasks must include traffic police collaboration.