For all those drunk drivers caught during checks, the prayers will just get longer. It is no more just about escaping imprisonment but also the newly-introduced punishment of community service. This form of punishment requires the violators to stand at junctions spreading awareness related to traffic safety by either distributing pamphlets or holding placards. More embarrassing is the fact that the violators have to stand for hours and return back to do the same the next day too.
For the first time, the 3 and 4 Metropolitan Magistrate Courts, Erramanzil has sentenced about 36 violators to social service on Tuesday for three hours every day for three days. The court also imposed a fine of Rs. 2,000 on them.
Immediately after the sentencing, the violators were taken to the Public Garden rotary near Traffic Control Room and made to hold placards.
The awareness messages were on various topics ranging from drunk driving to speeding to even wearing helmets.
“People were scared all this while to drink and drive because they might land in prison. They feel that their future might get spoilt if this happens. Even if somebody went to prison nobody knew about it unlike this one. Imagine, a person from well-to-do family actually standing near junction with a placard. This is more about embarrassing them so that they would not repeat the offence again,” said a senior Hyderabad traffic police official.
As part of the social service, the traffic officials will even take the violators to government hospitals. They have to engage in whatever chores are assigned to them by the supervisor of the hospital.
