Uttar Pradesh Director General of Police (DGP), OP Singh, has directed the state police to stop random checking of vehicles and only check driving license of the guilty person in case of traffic rule violation. The order comes after several complaints were received of cops harassing people soon after the Motor Vehicles Amendment Act was implemented.
In a circular, issued, UP DGP said, “Vehicles shouldn’t be stopped randomly only to check documents. If someone violates traffic rules by not wearing a helmet, seat belt, then cops should only check the respective person’s driving license. Action against those violating traffic rules should be done in a transparent manner. The documents uploaded on online storage facilities like Digilocker and M-Parivahan App should be considered legal.”
State Transport Department also issued a circular on September 13 stating that police cannot stop vehicles randomly and those violating traffic rules should only be asked for documents.
Meanwhile, the Yogi Adityanath government is still reviewing the implementation of hiked penalties that came into effect from September 1 under the Motor Vehicles Amendment Act.
The state is presently sticking to the old penalty structure.The Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill, 2019, which came into force from September 1, levies heavy penalties in case of traffic violations.
