Vikash Sharma

Sambalpur: At a time when Odisha Transport Department is gearing up for a massive crackdown on traffic violations after the end of the relaxation period from March 1, instances of lapses in charging penalties under the provisions of the amended Motor Vehicles Act still remains a major concern.

To prove this, a car owner was reportedly fined Rs 1,000 in Odisha’s Sambalpur for not wearing a helmet. The car owner Chandra Kumar Behera, a resident of Jharuapada alleged that the traffic police stopped his car near Modipara-Khetrajpur road and imposed the fine for not wearing helmet on Wednesday.

“It is astonishing how a responsible police officer is penalising me for not wearing helmet while I was driving a car. The only motto of traffic police is to penalise people and issue challans,” said Behera.

Behera today lodged a formal complaint with the Sambalpur Regional Transport Officer (RTO) in connection with the incident.

“I was travelling to Burla along with my wife when a constable stopped my car. After removing my seat belt, I got down and went to the senior official present at the spot. The officer asked me the registration number of the vehicle and informed that a fine of Rs 1,000 has been levied,” said Behera.

“Today, I went to the RTO office to deposit the fine when the authorities said that they will not receive the deposit. When I asked them, the authorities told me that he has been wrongly challaned,” added Behera.

Also Read: Expensive Mistake! Odisha Man Fined Rs 42,500 For Allowing Minor To Drive Motor Bike

Later in the day, Sambalpur Traffic Police clarified that the complainant was intercepted for not wearing helmet while riding his motorcycle at around 6: 45 pm yesterday.

"Except an alphabet, the registration number of the motorcycle and car of the complainant is same. How this occurred - whether there is error on the part of police personnel on duty or some other reason is being investigated. CCTV footage is being verified and police personnel on duty are being examined," Himanshu Behera DSP Traffic, Sambalpur said in a statement.

The cops further stated that only specific two- wheeler checking was done at that particular time and no car or any other four wheeler was stopped at that particular time.

As per reports, there have been several instances in Odisha where motorists have been wrongly challaned for several traffic violations post implementation of the amended Motor Vehicles Act in September last year.

Also Read: Motorists Beware As Strict Enforcement Of Traffic Rules To Resume From March 1 In Odisha

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