Licence seized, errant drivers file ‘complaints’ to mislead traffic cops

The traffic police are carrying out a special drive to check errant motorists, wherein their driving licence is seized for the next three months of the offence. But many have found a unique way to mislead the traffic police.  

Since the seizure of a driving licence means a person will not be able to drive for the next three months, offenders have resorted to lodging fake complaints, stating that they have lost their licences, in Delhi and NCR towns.

On December 15, 2015, a committee formed by the Supreme Court authorised the traffic police to seize the licences of motorists driving beyond the permissible limit, jumping redlights and those using cellphones while driving. The traffic police have seized 25,288 driving licences so far.

Once the licence is seized, a person cannot drive till his/her licence is released by the concerned Road Transport Office (RTO). “I was challaned for redlight jumping in South-east Delhi. As I drive a cab, I can’t sit at home for the next three months. I have filed a complaint, stating that I have lost my licence, at a Ghaziabad police station and have been provided with a copy of complaint letter. After filing the complaint, I have got one-month grace period to drive in the city without a driving licence,” said Ram Gopal (name changed), a cab driver.

When asked how would he drive for another two months, he winked and said: “Madam! Yahan harr cheez ka jugaad hain (Madam! Everything is possible here). I will file another such complaint in Gurgaon after a month. And later a complaint in Delhi. This way, I will get three months’ grace period. Then, I will go to Kanpur to get suspended licence redeemed.” 

Two others, whose licences have been seized, narrated a similar story.

When Millennium Post contacted Muktesh Chander, Special Commissioner of Police (Traffic), he confirmed the report and said: “Yes, people have opted for this forged way to mislead the authorities. But they do not know that by indulging in such an activity they are inviting trouble for themselves. If anyone is found that s/he has registered a fake complaint, s/he will be booked under the IPC.”

He added as the department was thinking of introducing an inter-connection between the district police and the traffic police. 

“So if a person files a complaint that s/he has lost his/ her driving licence, the data will be shared with traffic department and then it will be automatically verified whether the same licence is seized or not. The process of introducing this software will take time. But once it is done, it would be easy to identify the culprits,” he said.