Date:08/12/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/12/08/stories/2007120858610100.htm

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Drunken driving will land you in jail

Special Correspondent

State-wide drive against the offence from December 15

First offence attracts 6-month imprisonment or a fine of Rs. 2,000 or both
A year’s imprisonment or a fine of Rs. 3,000 or both for second offence

HYDERABAD: Transport Commissioner Poonam Malakondaiah has announced that from December 15, the transport department and police would launch a State-wide drive against drunken driving.

At a press conference here on Thursday, she said the decision to strictly implement section 185 of the Motor Vehicles Act that dealt with the offence was taken after there was an alarming increase in cases of drunken driving and their direct impact on road accidents. Ms. Poonam said that in a week-long special drive in April, 2007, the Hyderabad City Police had booked over 4,000 cases in the State capital. “We are concerned.

The first offence attracts six months’ imprisonment or a fine of Rs. 2,000 or both and for a second offence, those found guilty will get a year’s imprisonment or a fine of Rs. 3,000 or both, she said.

In tune with the Government’s focus on SAFAR (Safety Always For All Roads), she said they were inspecting each one of the 434 driving schools across the State.

She said the good schools would be listed on the department’s websites and at other places like eSeva centres for the benefit of the public.

As for the drive on checking vehicles for reflectors, the Commissioner said thus far, 97,462 vehicles were fitted with reflective sticker tapes and 92,693 vehicles had their headlights shaded black.

Also, Rs. 61.39 lakh were collected towards compounding fees, she said, adding that until December 6, 1,487 cases were booked on overloaded goods vehicles, including those transporting granite, sand, cement and other commodities.