Hyderabad: Drivers without licence beware

Hyderabad: After sending drunken drivers to jail, the Hyderabad traffic police is preparing the ground to send those caught driving without obtaining licences to prison.

The move comes after the Supreme Court Committee on Road Safety directed that action against traffic violations should not be confined to only fines. Enforcement agencies should invoke provisions of the MV Act, envisaging imprisonment.

As per Sections 180 and 181 of the Motor Vehicles Act, persons caught driving without obtaining licences can be jailed for three months.

Deputy commissioner of police (Hyderabad Traffic) Mr A.V. Ranganath told DC that they would file charge-sheets against drivers caught without licence (not obtained one) and also against the owner for giving the vehicle to the rule violator.

However, the process of sending these errant drivers to jail will start after a month.

During this time counselling will be held for those caught without driving licenses and also awareness would be spread over various platforms that people will be jailed for driving without obtaining a license.

Those who have licences but are not carrying the same with them can produce them later but only after paying a fine.

In 2015, nearly 200 motorists were sent to jail for driving in an inebriated condition. ?We have started taking Aadhaar card numbers from people violating traffic rules. This will allow us to know whether the same person has been involved in driving without a licence on multiple occasions. If there is no Aadhaar card, we take ration card or pan card details,? Mr Ranganath said.

Presently, those caught without license are being let off on payment of a Rs 500 fine. “The plan is to send those to jail who are caught thrice driving without licenses. On the first instance, they will be fined and counseled, the second time the vehicle will be seized and again counseling would be given. On the third instance a chargesheet will be filed,” said a traffic cop.