Hereafter, it is not going to be easy for those indulging in racing on city roads to get back their cars or bikes immediately.
At present, racers caught by police are allowed to take back their vehicles immediately after paying a fine. This is going to change. If the police stop anyone driving dangerously in future, it would take at least three to four days to secure their vehicles even if they agree to pay the fine amount.
As such, there is no change in the law. All that the police are doing is using a different section of law against the racers. All these days, Hyderabad traffic police had been invoking section 279 of the IPC against racers.
"We used to refer the instances of racing to the law and order police concerned who would book cases under 279 of IPC," a traffic police officer said. The local police would file charge-sheet over a period of time and the vehicle driver would pay the fine eventually.
Charge-sheet
But the traffic police decided to apply section 184 of MV Act against racers. "Once a racer is caught, his bike or car would be seized. He or she would have to compulsorily attend the counselling session," a traffic police officer said.
Instead of the law and order police, the traffic police would file the charge-sheet in racing cases. It is mandatory for the racer to attend the court and pay the fine imposed by the magistrate.
Counselling session, filing of charge-sheet, court process would take three to four days. "All these days, the vehicle used for racing would be in the custody of police only," the traffic police said.
Majority of the racers use high-end bikes or cars. "They are feeling the pinch when their prized vehicles are seized and kept at police stations for days. We hope that this move would act as a deterrent," they said.
