Bandra resident Adil Gandhy, whose license was impounded for a traffic offence had to run helter skelter trying to get it back. His friends called him foolish for being honest instead of giving the infamous 'hafta'. Here is Gandhy's letter to the traffic cops
Bandra resident Adil Gandhy, whose license was impounded for a traffic offence had to run helter skelter trying to get it back. His friends called him foolish for being honest instead of giving the infamous 'hafta'. Here is Gandhy's letter to the traffic cops
The Commissioner of Police,
Trafficu00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0
Pochkhanawala Road,
Worli, Mumbai -18u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0
June 27, 2011
Dear Sir,
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I was apprehended for use of mobile phone whilst driving on June 3 and was rightly hauled up by a traffic constable for my offence. I admitted I was at fault and was ready and willing to pay the required fine, whatever it was. 
However, the constable said that he was unable to fine me on the spot but instead said he would impound my license for which he would issue a receipt and that I had to then go three-four days later to the nearest Police Station which was Worli, pay my fine and they would in turn return my license.
I drew his attention to the fact that traffic constables have now been given the power to fine erring drivers on the spot and issue required receipts, which was originally the prerogative of Inspectors in the past.
However, since the constable said he did not have the powers to fine me on the spot and was unable to issue a receipt, he impounded my license and gave me a receipt for the same.
I then went to the Worli Police Station at BDD Chawl as instructed a few days later, to be told after quite some time of searching for my license that I had instead to go to the Traffic Commissioner's Office located at Pochkhanawala Road in Worli!
I went there the next day to be told that this offence had to be decided by a Court and that I had to go to a Court near Bhoiwada Police Station to pay a fine and to retrieve my license. They gave me a date for June 20, 2011.
On the said date, I first had to go to a building near the police station in order to register my receipt after which I was directed to go to a court near the Bhoiwada Police Station, where a judge would hear the case and decide upon the fine.
Suspended
The Court imposed a fine of Rs 100 for illegal use of mobile to all of us who admitted their offence and then directed us back to the original place where we had deposited our receipts.
We then paid our fine and were given back our original receipts with a stamp that we had paid a fine of Rs 100. We were then sent to xerox the same in order to give a copy to the department and were told that we had to collect our license from the Traffic Commissioner's Office at Worli after a week and in the meanwhile our license stood suspended.
I sent my driver with an authority letter to collect my license on the said date, when the constable tells him that the letter that I had written was not on a foolscap sheet and that I had to send the same again the next afternoon duly written on a foolscap sheet!
My driver called and told me this, at which I asked to speak to the concerned constable. I could not hold my temper and blasted him for such petty requests and said this was nothing but harassment and hung up the phone. He apparently went ahead and gave back my license to my driver.
Is this long and ridiculous procedure been thought up to harass the public? By all means impose a fine, but why the bureaucratic red tape which harasses the public?u00a0 I can only assume that this system has been designed to encourage corruption.
An honest and upright citizen is bound to become dishonest and slip the constable Rs 100 in bribe rather than go through this long and absurd procedure in order to pay a measly fine.
I urge your department to take note of the above and to also seriously consider allowing your traffic constables to collect fines on the spot. The fine of Rs 100 is also ridiculous; it needs to be substantially increased if you really wish people to adhere to rules.
Adil Gandhy at his store, Chemould Frames at Princess Street in South Mumbai
I don't know whether you will take note of the above and implement certain new laws, which are practical and also bring in more revenue to the state, as in the past, I have not had any response from your department in relation to certain complaints or suggestions made.
Yours Sincerely,
Adil Gandhy
Rigmarole
June 3: Caught on Worli Seaface for using mobile phone while driving. Adil was on his speaker phone but the cop caught him as he saw his lips moving while talking. Adil says, "I complimented the cop on his alertness, while admitting to the offence."
>u00a0 Constable takes license and tells Adil to collect it after paying the fine, as cop says he has no authority to issue fines on the spot.
>u00a0 Adil goes to BDD Chawl (Worli) police station a few days later to pay the fine and get his license.
>u00a0 A search ensues but Adil's license is not found. He is told to go to the Traffic Commissioner's office located at Worli, Pochkhanawala Rd, the next day.
>u00a0 At Pochkhanawala Rd, Adil is told that a Court would decide about the offence and is told to go to the Court near Bhoiwada Police Station to pay the fine and get the license. Given a date of June 20, 2011.
>u00a0 On the said day, Adil goes to Court near Police Station and from building to building till all procedures are complete. He is told to pay Rs 100 as fine. He is told to go to Worli once again after one week to collect his license.
>u00a0 Adil sent his driver on June 27, to Worli to collect his license with an authority letter. The driver is told that he cannot get the license, as the authority letter is not written on a foolscap paper! Adil then gives a piece of his mind to the constable and after that his license is handed over to the driver. Adil gets his license back on June 27.
Adil says, "My friends chided me and called me a fool for trying to be honest and pay the fine to the government! I am writing this letter to be put up on the traffic police website https://mumbaitrafficpolice.org/ to raise awareness.
u00a0
While I admit that I was wrong to talk on the phone while driving, such red tape encourages corruption. Even if a citizen wants to do the correct thing and pay the fine, he will be forced to find a wrong way out if there is so much rigmarole. Also, even if I had to pay Rs 100, I would say the fine should be more stringent to dissuade people from talking on mobiles while driving."u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0
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