The Mumbai traffic police have issued a circular on Thursday listing rules to be followed while towing away vehicles that are parked in violation of traffic rules.
Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Amitesh Kumar issued the circular after receiving several complaints on frequent disagreements between police officers and contract workers who drive towing vans in the city.
‘Removing ambiguity’
Mr. Kumar said, “The orders were issued earlier, but there was some ambiguity regarding the rules. We wanted to put down everything in black and white.”
Mr. Kumar said the need for such a circular was felt after officials recently towed away an illegally parked vehicle in Malad along with a woman and child seated in it. Videos of the incident went viral and police constable Shashank Rane of the Malad traffic division was suspended for dereliction of duty.
The circular instructs officers to ensure that a policeman of assistant sub inspector rank or above are present on board the towing vehicle. The officer is also supposed to be equipped with an e-challan issuing machine and a wireless radio handset. The circular states, “The vehicle can be handed back to the motorist if he pays the fine for violating parking rules and the towing charges via online payment in exchange for an e-challan before the towed vehicle reaches the chowky. In case a motorist reaches the spot before the vehicle is towed away, it can be released and the motorist need not pay the towing charges.”
Giving motorists a chance
The circular also advises traffic police personnel to call out an illegally parked vehicle’s licence plate number before towing it away. The circular states that the motorist should be given an opportunity to pay the fine and stop it from being towed away. However, this rule will not apply in a silent zone.
The circular ends by stating that police officers aboard the towing vehicle should ensure that the contract workers do not behave impolitely with motorists.
