Bhubaneswar: Twin-city traffic cops can no longer make quick bucks as the Commissionerate Police has decided to make fine collection system cashless in an effort to ensure transparency in collection of penalties from traffic violators.
Following allegations of rampant corruption and bribery among traffic personnel, the Commissionerate Police has decided to go cashless and provide traffic personnel with Point of Sale (PoS) terminals.
“Motorists can now pay fines for traffic violations using credit or debit cards at PoS devices which will be provided to men in uniform,” twin-city police commissioner Yogesh Bahadur Khurania said Wednesday, adding this would bring down the chances of corruption.
This apart, plans are afoot to equip traffic cops with cameras that can be fitted to their shirts, Khurania said. “The cameras will be provided within a month. It will help in keeping a vigil on transactions between the cops and the traffic offenders. The camera footages can be used as evidence in case of corruption allegation,” he added.
It was alleged that a few traffic personnel harassed commuters on the road by asking them for documents and extracting huge amounts without passing receipts. Besides, numerous cases of drunken driving, rash driving and illegal parking of vehicles on road go unreported as unscrupulous traffic police let go of the violators by taking bribe.
Equipped with PoS devices and cameras, the men in uniform would have no way but collect prescribed penalties. This would ensure the full fine amount reaches the state exchequer, the police commissioner added.
Explaining the PoS modus operandi, Khurania said, “After swiping the card, the motorist will get a text message on his/her cell phone. The message will contain details of penalty collected on heads like location of violation among others under provisions of the Motor Vehicle Act.” Moreover, the on-duty cop will also issue a hard copy (challan) to the motorist, Khurania added.
Post News Network
