17 November,2010 07:16 AM IST | | Kaumudi Gurjar
Cops want you to click photos of traffic violators, upload these on their Facebook page
After Mumbai and Delhi traffic police, it is the city traffic police's turn to go the Facebook way. The traffic police officially launched its page on Facebook, a social networking site on Tuesday. The traffic police expect active citizens to help them keep a watch on the traffic violators in the city.
"The decision to start a community on Facebook was taken long ago. We have worked out a system where the suggestions, complaints posted by citizens will be addressed shortly. Popular social networking sites will enable us to put community policing in practice," said Deputy Commissioner of Police Manoj Patil. "Now people can inform us about traffic issues and also send the photos of traffic related problems or traffic violators."
But, they will take action against traffic violators only after the officials have verified the violation personally.
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However, they have put up a system where information uploaded by people will be verified immediately by cops on patrolling duty. Patil said that people cannot expect police to take action against traffic offenders by merely uploading a picture. "Such photos do not come with date. There are chances that the old photos can be sent," said Patil.u00a0
Facebook will only be a platform for people to show traffic violations in the city. However, police say that people cannot use Facebook to send complaints. Patil said that citizens will have to send their complaints regarding traffic issues in a written format to the city traffic branch.
First FB-intervention
Traffic Police will launch a 15-day drive against illegal parking on cycle tracks and footpaths from November 20. They have appealed to the citizens to post information and photos pertaining to illegal parking on cycle tracks and footpaths on the Facebook community. The information will immediately be passed on to the traffic police on patrol duty who will then verify and take action. The information about the action being taken will be also uploaded on their page on Facebook.