The State police are set to forego their practice of pulling over two-wheeler riders and motorists for minor traffic infractions. Instead, they plan to introduce an integrated digital solution to remove the human element in traffic checking.
The scheme envisages the use of a State-wide network of night vision-enabled cameras, speed detectors, and radars to observe and record the whole gamut of traffic offences from racing and jumping traffic lights to failure to signal lane changes and driving with missing number plates and broken tail lamps.
The system includes cameras that can spot and photograph two-wheeler riders without helmets and police vans with diagnostic tools to detect drunkenness in drivers. The “booze booths” will have field tests kits to spot drug impairment in motorists.
Centralised traffic enforcement control rooms in Thiruvananthapuram and Kochi will monitor the network. The units will automatically generate traffic tickets and despatch them to registered owners of vehicles caught breaking traffic rules.
The police are likely to float global tenders to execute the public service as a long-term contract between the government and any competent private party. The private partner will bear the risk of implementing the system and managing it for 10 years.
In the initial year, the firm will get 90% of the fines imposed. Incrementally, the government will get a higher percentage of the penalties that are estimated to run into crores of rupees annually.
The firm will not be involved in the law enforcement process. The police will constitute committees in all districts to hear appeals from the public. The traffic tickets issued by the system is open to challenge in courts. Citizens can remit their fines online or through banks or post offices.
The controversial practice of stopping and checking vehicles along busy roads had often resulted in allegations of police misconduct and high-handedness. The proposed system will also help the force optimise its workforce deployment.
State Police Chief Loknath Behera and Inspector General of Police Manoj Abraham are supervising the scheme.
