With so many vehicles plying on the roads in India, the traffic police has been deployed all over the roads to ensure that the traffic laws are being followed. However, whenever a vehicle is stopped by the traffic police personnel, whether to issue a traffic e-challan for a violation to the vehicle, or for routine inspections, or to simply warn the driver against any harm that may befall him or the vehicle on the road, there are many people who cannot calmly deal with the situation at hand. Moreover, even though you may have committed a traffic rule violation, you still must be acutely aware of your rights. Here are some of the key points to keep in mind when you are dealing with a traffic police personnel on the road.
- First of all, you must try your best to not break any traffic rules while on the road. The traffic rules and regulations have been kept in place for a reason, and you must appropriately follow them in order to keep yourself, your surroundings and the people around you safe.
- In case you are being signalled by the traffic police to stop, do not try to avoid stopping. Whatever the reason may be for stopping you, you must cooperate with the traffic police officer calmly.
- Ensure that you have all your vehicular papers updated and on your person, from the accurate vehicle RC details, to the insurance papers, to the vehicle PUC certificate and a valid driving license.
- Be aware that while you may be asked to show your documents, you do not necessarily have to hand them over the traffic police officer. This is clearly mentioned in the Section 130 of the Motor Vehicles Act.
- If you are being stopped for any traffic transgressions having been made by you, ensure that the traffic police officer has a traffic challan book. A traffic police officer cannot penalise you without the presence of a traffic challan book or a traffic e-challan machine.
- In the event you feel that the officer questioning you might be pretending to be a traffic police personnel, or you feel any kind of foul play in action, then you must politely ask the officer for a proof of his identification.
- In case your car or vehicle is supposed to be towed away, know that the authorities cannot tow your vehicle till the time you are seated inside.
- If you are being issued a challan, check the exact details mentioned on the challan. It should contain information about the offence under which you have been booked, details of the traffic police officer who issued the challan, and the court where your trial will be held, along with documents that have been detained by the traffic police.
- Know that in case you are being mistreated or harassed by the traffic police officer, you have the right to lodge a complaint against the officer at the police station.
- On being detained by the traffic police, you will be expected to appear for your trial within 24 hours in front of the district magistrate.
If you keep the above pointers in mind, you will be able to easily and calmly deal with the authorities and become an aware citizen of the country.
