Mumbai’s traffic police has huge gaps in its service delivery

RN Bhaskar

Mumbai has a glorious record of having an efficient police force.  But, over the years, the starch in the upright image of the force is getting crumpled.  Even past commissioners like Julio Ribeiro have bemoaned the corrosion of the police force, often thanks to the government’s inability to bring in the right policies (https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2021/Apr/06/only-upright-officers-should-head-the-forcejulio-ribeiro-on-param-bir-fiasco-2286435.html).  Nonetheless, it is fair to say that when compared to the traffic police in most cities, Mumbai still have some of the best traffic regulations and management.

Sheen wearing off

But the sheen is wearing out.  An example is the way I received an sms ostensibly from the traffic police informing me that IK had to download a file from a specific site.  I picked up a computer that was not connected to any other PC and downloaded the file.

It turned out to be a notice from the police informing me about a Lok Adalat notice.  The notice informed me that I had committed various offences under the traffic rules, and if I did not pay up immediately, I would be hauled before the court.  The notice said that I could pay the fine at any police station, or online.

Strange Lok Adalat notice

The Lok Adalat notice was surprising. Some of the offences dated back to 2022.  How is anyone supposed to remember anything about traffic violations a year ago, let alone three years ago?

Nevertheless, not willing to fall foul of the law, I went to the website to make the payment.  The total came to Rs.3,700 for all the seven offences.  I paid by credit card.  The transaction was effected by Billdesk.  But I did not get a receipt.

I got confirmations from the bank, and from the credit card company, both by sms and by email.  But no confirmation from the traffic depart of the police.

Seeking assistance, but …..

So, I wrote to the police commissioner. I asked for a receipt.  The police commissioner dutifully forwarded my email with all attachments to the Additional police commissioner in charge of traffic, who in turn forwarded it to others. But no receipt was forthcoming.

Finally, I got an email from the multimedia cell of the police asking me to go to the police station.

That email got me hopping mad.  My reasons were many:

1. I am a senior citizen, and this category cannot be called to the police station unless there a grave issue.
2. I paid through the internet. My receipt should have come through the internet, or by email, or WhatsApp.
3. I am also disabled. The traffic department has a record that my vehicle is for the disabled.  So does my driving licence.  It is unfair of the police to threaten such a person with either the Lok Adalat notice, or call him to the police station.
4. Previous violations of traffic rules reported by me against errant drivers who could have endangered lives had not been acted on. So why was the police keen on penalising citizens for significantly minor violations?
5. I have no recollection of having committed these violations, but did not want to dispute them, because I did not want trouble with the courts or the police. Normally, notices of traffic violations should be posted to the vehicle owners’ WhatApp and SMS accounts. The police has the details and it has a multi media cell as well.

I listed out my objections to the additional police commissioner, but got no response.  Nor did the multimedia cell get back to me.

The appearance of an app

After a few days, I thought I should check with any app that the traffic police had, to see if the app (a) listed out my offences, and (b) had confirmed that there was no outstanding against my name.

Some of my friends told me that I have been skimmed by a scamster in view of a Free Press Journal report that had appeared earlier (https://www.freepressjournal.in/cyber-secure/fpj-cyber-secure-beware-of-fake-traffic-challan-alert). .

When I did a search for the relevant app, I found that there were several, with no guidance on which would be relevant.  I tried two, and then I hit upon the right one.

More surprises were in store for me.  I discovered that all my traffic offences were listed on the app, but the app did not allow me to take a screenshot.  Why?  I am baffled.

I went to each of the offences.  I found that four of them had receipts for each of the individual offences.  But three of the offences had the generic receipt for Rs.3,700.  Why were different yardsticks being observed for different offences?  I do not know.

Questions that seek answers

This raises several questions.

1. If the receipts were posted on the app, why was I not informed of this when I sent the complaint to the police which was forwarded to the traffic police?
2. If the receipts were already on the app, why did the multimedia cell of the police ask me to go to the police station?
3. If the receipts are duly posted on the app, why do some receipts show the fine applicable to the traffic violation, and some give the entire fine of Rs.3,700?  Why the different methods adopted in giving the receipts?
4. Why does the police not reply to citizens query instead of being high-handed with Lok Adalat notices and orders to go to police stations?
5. I believe that the police have been asked to be mindful of senior citizens and the disabled? Why was this courtesy not complied with in this case?

I do not know what the answers are.  But this incident has left me a big sad, and a lot worried.  If this could happen to me, what about people who do not have access to media.?  If the entire notice about traffic violations and the challans are fake, gulling people to part with their money, why does the police not say so immediately?

I do believe that the police does owe answers to the general public.

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