5,139 driving licences recommended for suspension in 2017

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 18

A total of 5,139 driving licences (DLs) were recommended for suspension by the Chandigarh Traffic Police during 2017 for traffic violations, including drunken driving, red-light jumping, talking on mobile phone while driving and overspeeding.

The Chandigarh Traffic Police had adopted the new rule of suspending the DLs in November, 2016. Initially, the Traffic Police started suspending the DLs for traffic offences, including overspeeding, red-light jumping and talking on mobile phone while driving. However, later another offence of drunken driving was also added to the list.

The DLs are suspended for three months even if the motorists are caught for the violation for the first time.

As per the official figures, 5,139 DLs were recommended for suspension by the Traffic Police for all four traffic offences during the last year.

Shashank Anand, SSP (Traffic), said the number of DLs suspended for drunken driving comprises most of the challans out of the total 5,139, followed by overspeeding. “Many times, drivers are not carrying their DLs. In that case, their challans are forwarded to the local court for necessary action,” the SSP said.

As per the rule, the traffic police recommend DLs for suspension to the local court from where DLs are sent to the issuing authority for suspension. The traffic violator after the completion of three months has to collect the challan from the office of issuing authority concerned.

In several cases it has been found that the motorists challaned for the offence submitted fake DL to the police or court and the cheating came to fore when the DL was sent for suspension to the issuing authority, which then reverts with a communication that the DL is fake.

A police official said the motorists driving across the city are advised to follow all traffic rules, which will not only save them from getting penalised but also make their journey safer.