Over 1.5 lakh helmet, drunken driving cases booked in central districts in 46 days

Trichy: Police registered more than 1.55 lakh cases for helmetless riding and drunken driving across the nine central districts between May 1 and June 15, collecting over Rs2.07 crore in fines during the 46-day enforcement drive.Under the Motor Vehicles Act, police booked 1,48,906 motorists for riding without helmets. Trichy recorded the highest number of violations with 28,738 cases, followed by Ariyalur (23,486), Thanjavur (22,305), Pudukkottai (20,697), Karur (18,262), Thiruvarur (15,712), Perambalur (14,813), Nagapattinam (4,612) and Mayiladuthurai (281).Police also registered 6,884 cases of drunken driving during the period. Karur topped the list with 1,606 cases, followed by Thanjavur (1,339), Trichy (1,318), Ariyalur (872), Thiruvarur (533), Nagapattinam (522), Perambalur (340), Pudukkottai (336) and Mayiladuthurai (18).Under Section 194D of the Motor Vehicles Act, riding without a helmet attracts a fine of Rs1,000, while Section 185 prescribes a penalty of Rs10,000 for a first drunken-driving offence and Rs15,000 for repeat offences.Of the Rs2.07 crore collected so far, Trichy accounted for the highest share at Rs90.1 lakh, followed by Thanjavur (Rs34.7 lakh), Ariyalur (Rs31.5 lakh), Karur (Rs26.5 lakh), Thiruvarur (Rs12.1 lakh) and Pudukkottai (Rs10.9 lakh).

Nagapattinam, Mayiladuthurai and Perambalur collected Rs91,000, Rs33,000 and Rs10,000 respectively.“Many violators are yet to pay the fines. The penalty will continue to reflect against their names and they will be reminded when they visit transport department offices,” a police official told TOI.Inspector-general of police (Central Zone) V Balakrishnan has directed district superintendents to continue regular vehicle checks and strict enforcement against traffic violators to reduce accidents and deter crime.Police officials said several districts are procuring Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras and breathalysers using Road Safety Funds to strengthen enforcement against helmetless riding and drunken driving.