[Resolved]  Traffic Police on Mumbai-Pune Expressway — Fine for not wearing of seat belt

Address:

Raigad, Maharashtra

Hello,

I was going to Pune from Mumbai on 2.10.10. After paying toll charges at 12:00 noon, police present near toll collecting booth, asked me to show my driving licence. As soon as the police got my licence in his hand, he asked me to take my car on one side of the road where their colleagues were collecting fines for not wearing seat belts. I pleaded to them that I was wearing seat belt and seat belt was removed in fron of them to take out my wallet for paying the toll. However they didnot listen and made to pay a fine of Rs.100/-. On enquiry with their Police Inspector(PI), Khalapur range who was supervising entire operation, I was told that since I was not wearing the seat belt when they saw me while paying toll, I need to pay a fine. To my surprise, I saw there were other many people being fined for the same reason.

I started arguing with the PI , saying that I am central govt, Class-I gazetted officer obeying all the traffic rules & regulations & this is really injustice because all along the journey I was wearing the seat belt and the same was removed for taking out wallet from rear pocket of pant for paying the toll. However, the gentleman, started saying that you should keep money outside before starting the journey as you know that the toll is to be paid on the way.

Will the Police Department stop such practices at least at the toll collection point where person is supposed to pay toll from his wallet. If they want to catch hold of people not wearing seat belts, they should install cameras on highways/expressway and collect fines from real offenders and not harass the law abiding citizens.