The Kolkata Traffic Police has implemented a new policy, booking errant motorists not only under the Motor Vehicles Act but also adding criminal charges under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for grave violations such as reckless driving, dangerous driving, and signal-jumping that endanger public safety.
Policy Details
Penalties and traffic citations will continue for minor offenses, but criminal charges will be applied selectively when violations are deemed exceptionally grave or negligent, a police officer explained. For such incidents, a criminal case will be registered under Section 281 of the BNS, which pertains to rash or reckless driving on public ways. This section can attract up to six months' imprisonment, a fine, or both.
First Implementation
The policy shift was put into action on Friday morning when an electric scooter rider was intercepted at the AJC Bose Road-Jawaharlal Nehru Road crossing for ignoring a red light and moving ahead, narrowly missing other vehicles. Police noted that although the two-wheeler was a low-speed electric scooter belonging to a prominent app-based rental company, the rider's maneuvering was dangerous enough to warrant criminal prosecution rather than a traffic slip. The sergeant detained the 18-year-old rider, a resident of the Tiljala area, and handed him, along with the scooter, to a police station for formal booking.
Implications
This new approach aims to deter dangerous driving by introducing stricter consequences. The use of BNS Section 281 reflects a zero-tolerance stance toward actions that pose significant risks to public safety. The police encourage all motorists to adhere to traffic rules to avoid both civil penalties and criminal prosecution.
