Delhi police's hall of shame

Its website may soon host the names of drink-driving accused in national capital

Its website may soon host the names of drink-driving accused in national capital

It could well be a 'Hall of Shame' on the website of Delhi Police if its plans to make public the names of those jailed for drunken driving in the national capital come through.

The move comes in the backdrop of its plan to clear the Delhi roads of traffic violators and educate people against the dangers of drink driving. "We are mulling the possibility of putting the names of those convicted for drink driving on our website.

Hold your breath! Delhi police moved to a court in August seeking its permission for allowing imprisonment in some cases of drink- driving. REPRESENTATIVE PIC

We don't think that there could be any problem as it is a list of people who were jailed by courts," said Satyendra Garg, Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic).

Last year, over 10,800 people were fined for driving under the influence of alcohol. Out of this, driving licences of 580 were suspended while 710 people were imprisoned up to 10 days.

Challans increase
In 2008, a total of 7,579 people were prosecuted for drink driving while the next year saw a steep increase in challans on this front to 12,109. The figure in 2007 for the same offence was 3,748. Police attributed this rise to its aggressive challan drive.

Delhi police had in August moved a Delhi Court seeking its permission for allowing imprisonment in some cases of drink driving.

Police attribute 40 per cent of the road accidents in the capital to drink driving. Over 1,900 fatal accidents have been reported in the capital this year.u00a0

On the New Year Eve, police challaned 388 revellers for drink driving. "Those 388 prosecuted for drink driving were instructed to appear before courts to face the penalty of possible jail term apart from suspension of driving licence and fines," he said.

10,800
Number of people that were caught in Delhi for drink driving in 2010

1,900
Number of fatal accidents reported in Delhi in 2010

388
Number of revellers booked on New Year's Eve in Delhi

40
Per cent road accidents in the capital owing to drink driving

What the law says

Anybody found driving or attempting to drive a vehicle above the permissible limit of alcohol in the blood (30mg/100 ml) faces imprisonment up to six months or a Rs 2,000 fine or both.

If it is a subsequent challan, the offenders may end up getting a jail term of up to two years or a fine of Rs 3,000 or both.