CHENNAI: The recent order by the state, insisting motorists to carry their original licence during transit has increased the footfalls and enquiries at Regional Transport Offices (RTO) across the state where the commuters are applying for new licences or renewing their old ones that are bound to expire.
“After the announcement, people immediately rushed to RTOs. At least 100 people applied for originals as they have either lost or want to renew their license,” said one of the regional transport officers.
He further added that there has been a case where a person's license was seized in 2013 and he has been showing a photocopy for the last four years. Only after the announcement, he had applied for the new license.
However, when a few people approached for more number of originals, the RTO officials have clarified that as of now, each motorist is only eligible to have one original driving license.
“The Supreme Court Committee on Road Safety had instructed to cancel the driving license of motorists involved in certain violations of traffic norms. This cannot be implemented properly if numerous original licenses are issued,” said another officer from transport department.
Interestingly an AIADMK legislator and former MLA from Chennai called on the state top brass early this week pleading them not to go ahead with the new initiative as the public is against the order insisting to carry original license. “I personally requested a senior minister to tell the officers on Thursday not to go ahead with the order as motorists in my constituency fumed over the September 1 order”, an AIADMK MLA told DC seeking anonymity.
Original licence rule silly: Officers
Lorry owners, office-bearers of transport associations and police officers admit the new rule carry the original licence rule as silly and termed the move would affect the road traffic if implemented. A senior transport official distanced himself seeking anonymity and said it is the decision of the state home department to go ahead with the order insisting motorists to carry the original licence with them.
Another senior police official who wished not to be quoted admitted that this would pile up the workload on traffic cops and also create traffic snarls whenever police check drivers for new vehicles. In case of those without helmets, you can identify and in case drink and drive police stop only the suspects, but this rule makes every motorist vulnerable for a police check, the officer said explaining that they are two components in traffic management. First enforcement and then investigation and if you implement this order investigation will be a Herculean task, he added.
“Other state police or transport departments do not insist the motorists carry the original licence and I do not understand why TN wants to practice this,” fumed K. Narayanan, a cab operator based in Ambattur. I have three drivers employed with me, the only hold I have is their original driving licence. If I return their ID's they may even run away with the advance money I have given them, he added.
