Cops feel pinch of higher traffic fines

Landed as they are with the “difficult” task of managing tricky and sometimes unruly situations while dealing with motorists, traffic cops claim to be under stress “all the time”.

On a hot sunny afternoon, Mahendra Kumar stands in the centre of a busy junction in the heart of the city. He sports the iconic white and khaki uniform, a hat and black leather shoes. He also has a mask as a precaution against Covid-19, dust and smoke. “I find it difficult to keep wearing the mask continuously for eight hours. Also, while I am masked up, using the whistle is ruled out,” he says, even as he guides vehicles that teem past him from four different directions.

Of late, Bengaluru Traffic Police has been facing flak reportedly for harassing the public. In the latest incident, a video clip purportedly showing a two-wheeler rider being assaulted by a traffic policeman has been gaining traction. Only a couple of days ago, a traffic police officer was suspended after a video showed him kicking a disabled woman went viral.

“It is unfortunate that incidents showing traffic policemen in poor light have been showing up. We work hard at our duty, not giving up even in the face of antagonism from the public when all we are doing is enforcing rules. We encounter rude and arrogant motorists time and again, due to which we also lose our cool,” Kumar revealed to News Trail.

“If you look deep into some of the experienced cops, you’ll see the toll the job has taken on them. You’ll see it on their tanned skin, their deteriorating physique and fragile mental state,” he added.

There are over 80 lakh vehicles in Bengaluru – a number that is set to cross 1 crore soon – and only a force of around 5,000 managing them. Of these 5,000, around 4,500 are field staff ranging from constables all the way up to inspectors. That is one traffic policeman for every 1,777 vehicles.

A senior official from the Traffic and Transit Management Centre (TTMC) accepted that it was their duty, which they were “wilfully” doing. “We should not lose our temper. Our job is to enforce law, not take it into our hands and behave like goons,” he said without mincing words. A few months ago, the BTP took disciplinary action against 37 of its personnel for failure to follow set standard operating procedures (SOP) in traffic enforcement. The action was taken based on complaints citizens had posted on social media about various forms of harassment meted out by the traffic police.

In a bid to improve the wellbeing of city traffic personnel, several yoga and stress-management sessions were initiated before the pandemic put paid to the efforts.

Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai unveiled a slew of technological tools including body-worn cameras for the officers. “When day-today interactions between the police and public turn sour, how does one establish who’s in the wrong? Body-cameras are the answer, at least at the moment for us city traffic cops,” Kumar added.

Bengaluru psychiatrists say severe traffic congestion coupled with the lack of basic infrastructure are underlying reasons for the growing anger, which the recently hiked heavy fines are only aggravating.

“Instances of road rage among commuters are on the rise, which can be attributed to bad roads and traffic snarls. When the penalties were hiked, it angered people further, as many in the country are still struggling to meet even their daily expenses. Owning and maintaining a vehicle is a matter of need for most, and not indulgence in luxury. So, a fine becomes an added burden most can’t handle,” said Dr Vijay Kumar, a city-based psychiatrist.

Senior cop expresses concern over rising cops-public friction

Joint Commissioner of Police, Traffic, BR Ravikanthe Gowda, expressed concern over the rising cases of highhanded behaviour of the department personnel. “A traffic policeman’s job is very tough and demanding. The constable who stands at the traffic signal is not only subjected to high doses of smoke and soot, but also abuses of commuters. Everyone says that our policemen are very rude. We agree this is true at times but even our officers are subjected to abuse by people. They are working under continuous stress and pressure. On an average, every violator argues with us for 20 minutes. They have an excuse for every wrong they do, every time,” he said.

“Imagine for one caught during a drunken driving drive to ask us what was wrong with tipping the bottle and manning a vehicle. They argue that even those who don’t drink cause accidents. It is very difficult to talk sense into those who babble after downing alcohol, but they annoy us no end.

“Not just that, everyone holds the constable managin