In a major crackdown on errant autorickshaw drivers here on Thursday, the city police booked more than 700 autorickshaw drivers for various offences.
The traffic police and Home Guards, in plain clothes, approached autorickshaws and booked the errant drivers for demanding excess fare and refusing to go on hire and for running autos without recalibrated meters, driving without uniforms or displaying their identity cards.
A statement from the office of Mysuru City Police Commissioner’s office said that 1,480 autorickshaws were checked from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Thursday.
As many as 705 of them were booked for various offences and penalties amounting to Rs. 59,700 were imposed on them.
Autorickshaw drivers were imposed penalties ranging from Rs. 100 to Rs. 5,000.
The crackdown came in the wake of increasing complaints from the public.
It was found that many autorickshaw drivers refused to ferry passengers as per the fare meters. In many cases, the autorickshaw drivers had not recalibrated their meters even though the last fare revision was carried out more than 17 months ago in January, 2014.
Several autorickshaw drivers were also found driving without a valid Driving License (DL). Many autorickshaw drivers do not possess a DL even as the Centre had made eight standard pass as the minimum qualification for a DL, officials said.
Recently, the city police made complaint cards available at bus stands, railway stations, malls, tourist spots and other public places.
The public can tick the appropriate complaint listed in the card and post it to the city police, which will take action against the errant autorickshaw driver.
Autorickshaws checked – 1,480
Drivers booked
– 705
Penalties imposed
– Rs. 59,700
