The Traffic DIG has also taken strict action against officers who are corrupt and dishonest in their dealings. The traffic police are also installing more security cameras on the roads to keep an eye on their men. PHOTO: FILE
At a press conference on Monday, Karachi traffic police chief DIG Abdul Khalique Shaikh said that increasing the fines is among the several major steps that are being taken to improve the traffic situation in the city. Given that the penalties had not been updated for the past 12 years, the higher fines will make people think twice before breaking the law.
The increased fines apply to tinted windows, signal violations, ignoring one-way signs, over-speeding, and driving without a helmet, or a driving licence, or an unregistered vehicle. There are also new laws in place for repeated offenders.
“Usually, if a person is fined Rs50 the first time, they are fined the same amount the next time so the violator does not bother how many times he repeats the same mistake,” said Shaikh. “This will not happen anymore. Even if a person is fined Rs50 the first time, they will have to pay Rs2,000 if they break the law again.”
Shaikh has also taken strict action against those officers found corrupt. He suspended and punished at least 10 traffic policemen, including a sub-inspector, an assistant sub-inspector and seven constables recently because they were dishonest in their work.
The department is also planning on starting an SMS service to help commuters and negotiations with cellphone companies are underway. “We are about to start an SMS service through which people will be able to get information on traffic jams from the comforts of their homes,” he said. “When people leave their homes, they will know which routes to avoid.”
The department is also starting a traffic campaign from the start of April to educate commuters about traffic rules and regulations. They are also trying to revive around 40 cameras that were installed in different spots of the city, such as Sharae Faisal and district South, but have not been working for the past several years. “Apart from reviving these, we will install more cameras too.” Shaikh felt that cameras will help the police enforce traffic laws and remove corruption among their officers.
Some revised traffic fines are as below:
Violation Old fine New Fine
Tinted windows Rs200 Rs500
Signal violation Rs200 Rs500
Driving wrong way Rs100 Rs500
Driving without helmet Rs50 Rs300
Driving without a licence Rs300 Rs1,000
Over-speeding Rs200 Rs400
Driving an unregistered vehicle Rs100 Rs1,000
Published in The Express Tribune, March 27th, 2013.
edical college was inaugurated. Now, the university has 19 buildings that were built with the help of donations worth $ 95.6 million.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 27th, 2013.
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