Close on the heels of its directive to do away with the red and blue beacons on dignitaries’ vehicles, the Central government has asked the States and Union Territories to crack down on the use of multi-tone horns, normally installed on vehicles to flaunt the user’s VIP status.
The move comes in the wake of the reports that many persons have installed loudspeakers and multi-tone horns atop their vehicles as an alternative to beacon lights.
In a communication issued on August 11, Director, MVL, of the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, asked the Transport Commissioners of States and Union Territories to “firmly address the issue.”
“Under no circumstances should a circumvention of the order relating to removal of beacon lights be allowed under the garb of installation of loudspeakers, multi-tone horns atop the vehicles as an alternative means of exhibiting VIP status,” the communication said.
The Ministry had in June this year asked the States to comply with the 2013 directive of the Supreme Court banning multi-tone horns that give a succession of different notes or produce an unduly, harsh, shrill, loud or alarming noise.
Exemptions
As per Section 119(3) of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, vehicles used as ambulance, for fire-fighting and salvage process, used by police officers or operators of construction equipment vehicles, and officers of the Motor Vehicles Department can use multi-tone horns in the course of their duty subject to the approval of sound signals by the registering authority.
Joint Transport Commissioner, Enforcement, Rajeev Puthalath told The Hindu that dignitaries installing multi-tone horns atop vehicles had not come to his notice.
Decibel meter
He said that based on the Ministry directive, the Motor Vehicles Department would intensify the drive to prevent misuse of multi-tone vehicles and to book those using horns above 120 decibels.
“We will procure decibel meter to equip all the enforcement vehicles of the MVD. e-tenders will be floated soon,” the Joint Transport Commissioner said.
