Two youths from Ludhiana district have been sentenced to four days of community service, fined Rs 10,000 each, and had their driving licences suspended for three months after being caught driving under the influence of alcohol and obstructing traffic police personnel in Chandigarh.
Incident Details
The accused, identified as Lovejot Singh (26), resident of Village Gosalan, Tehsil Samrala, and Gaganpreet Singh (27), resident of Village Otalan, Tehsil Samrala, both in Ludhiana district, were intercepted at a drunk-driving checkpost on the Sector 34/35 dividing road on the night of July 4-5. The checkpost was set up under the supervision of ASI Mohinder Singh and other traffic police personnel.
The driver's breath analyser test recorded an alcohol level of 238 mg per 100 ml of blood, far exceeding the permissible limit of 30 mg per 100 ml. When asked to produce vehicle documents, the occupants allegedly refused to cooperate, declined to disclose their identities, and misbehaved with Lady Traffic Marshal Sukhjeet Kaur and other officers. A call to Dial 112 brought a PCR vehicle and local police to the scene, but the accused allegedly continued to misbehave.
Legal Proceedings
Following verification, the vehicle was impounded and the accused taken into custody. Both underwent medical examination at Government Multi-Specialty Hospital, Sector 16. They were produced before the Sub-Divisional Magistrate, South Division, Chandigarh, with the case adjourned to September 16.
The traffic challan was separately placed before the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate Sachin Yadav, where the accused pleaded guilty. The court imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 each, with a default sentence of 15 days' simple imprisonment for non-payment.
Community Service and Licence Suspension
The court also directed the violators to perform four days of community service, reporting to the Inspector/Traffic (Administration), Chandigarh, on July 8 at 10 am. During this period, they will assist traffic police as volunteers at designated signals and intersections to promote awareness of traffic rules among the public. Their driving licences have been suspended for three months, during which they are disqualified from holding or driving any class of motor vehicle.
Police Statement
Speaking to The Tribune, DGP Dr Sagar Preet Hooda said the Chandigarh Police maintains zero tolerance towards drunk driving and any attempt to obstruct police personnel discharging their duties. He stated that strict action would continue against violators, irrespective of their identity, and warned that those who misbehave with traffic officials, particularly women personnel, would face the full force of the law.
