Party on, but have none for the road

This New Year's Eve, plainclothes traffic police to be posted near party venues to catch people driving under influence of alcohol

As the police are strictly implementing the party deadline in the city this festive season, you may be tempted to gulp down as many drinks as possible to make the most of your time before taking to the wheel to go home.

A bad idea, given the fact that the traffic police have made elaborate arrangements to ensure you do not endanger your and other people's lives by not waiting a suitable length of time to let your blood alcohol level go down to the permissible limit.

Leaving no stone unturned to catch people who drive home after having one too many during New Year's celebrations, the traffic division will have 50 plainclothes traffic policemen monitoring roads around party venues across the city.

If the police suspect a case of drink-driving, messages will be flashed over wireless sets giving the vehicle registration number to other policemen, ensuring a culprit does not get away scot-free.

40 breathalysers
Apart from this, 40 breathalysers will be pressed into service to conduct checks on people suspected of being drunk at the wheel, said DCP Manoj Patil (Traffic).

Overall on New Year's Eve, 650 policemen will be deputed around the city to ensure there are no untoward incidents.
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The traffic division of the police will also book people for rash driving, crossing the speed limit, driving triple seat on two-wheelers and even for honking, screaming and driving a vehicle without a silencer to attract attention.

"Due to vigilance and adequate presence of traffic policemen on the city roads, the number of accidents on the New Year's Eve are reducing over the years," said DCP Patil. "Last year there was no accident reported in the city on New Year's Eve and we want to maintain the record."

The traffic division, which kicked off its drive against drink-driving on December 19, has already booked 235 people under Section 85 of the Motor Vehicles Act.

The traffic police said that if a person is convicted of drink-driving a second time, the court can even cancel his licence.
(With inputs from M Pavitra)