I am a follower of traffic rules. I never jump any traffic signal, ignoring the honking by the driver of the vehicle behind me. I try to halt before the stop line so that I can clearly see the ZEBRA CROSSING.
Earlier this year, I had a unique experience. I was driving on Eastern Express Highway, in Mumbai from Kanjurmarg to Mulund and turned left at Nahur junction to reach Mulund West on LBS road. As a practice I ensured that the left turn signal was green and sure it was! And there came a traffic police in front of my car and told me to pull over.
I don't understand why these traffic police personnel stand hidden and are wanting to fine the drivers after they do the wrong. You will always find them behind a tree or a big truck or bus, or may be just after a turn; and jump on you to catch hold of you. As I understand they should prevent the commuters from doing such mistakes rather they seem to be interested in collecting 'fine' from people and show the swollen figures of figures of such 'collections' to their superiors. Some times local newspapers publish the figures of such collection and the amounts are never less than a few Lakh of Rupees per RTO in the City of Mumbai. I really wonder where that money is spent. Ideally one would use such handsome amount in improvising the the overall condition and working style of the traffic police department as a whole. This may include buying latest motorcycles or the fastest SUVs for the cops, establish a better communication system, provide good facilities at the traffic police stations especially for those stations established under fly over bridges! I don't understand why should they be under a bridge!
I am
thinking of filing an 'RTI' petition to know where the money collected by traffic
police is spent, though I know that the true 'Information' will never be revealed to me.
So I pulled over and rolled the glass down. Without the officer saying anything to me, I told him that the left turn light was green and I have not jumped the signal. He said, "I have not stopped you for jumping the red light but for having 'dark glasses' on my car's windows and wind shield. So I requested him to measure the 'transparency percentage of the glass' using the luxometer meant for it, which was not in his possession. He demanded my driving license and asked to pay a fine of Rs. 100.
So I pulled over and rolled the glass down. Without the officer saying anything to me, I told him that the left turn light was green and I have not jumped the signal. He said, "I have not stopped you for jumping the red light but for having 'dark glasses' on my car's windows and wind shield. So I requested him to measure the 'transparency percentage of the glass' using the luxometer meant for it, which was not in his possession. He demanded my driving license and asked to pay a fine of Rs. 100.
This is the receipt I got from him. He was totally unaware of the supreme court's mandate about the sun control films on the wind shields and windows of a vehicle. And not to my surprise, he was not knowing what a luxometer is! Read through the Supreme Court's Judgement on the issue. This judgement has a statement about the luxometer being a scares commodity. If so, how come movie makers and TV serial producers can avail them one per camera?
This SC mandates says that the glass of the windscreen and rear window of every motor vehicle shall be such and shall be maintained in such a condition that the visual transmission of light is not less than 70%. The glasses used for side windows are such and shall be maintained in such condition that the visual transmission of light is not less than 50%, and shall conform to Indian Standards [IS: 2553— Part 2—1992].
So, I was expecting that this police officer should have possessed the luxometer and tested the transparency of the wind shield and the side windows of my car. But against my expectation, the officer did not possess the equipment! Neither he had the copy of the Supreme Court's Mandate on the same.
Well, while I was being 'fined' for no wrong of mine, at least 25 cars passed by which had their windshields and window glasses darker than my car has. Had I questioned him about stopping those cars for the same 'crime' he sure would have put on me the charge of 'hindering the work of a Government servant/police officer'.
I have seen many cars with their wind shields having tramsperancy less than 70%. If this rule of sun control films is by the Supreme Court of India, should not it be applicable equally to all the citizens of India? Or it it the case that this rule is it applicable to the cars of the common man only, and not to the cars of VIPs and celebrities? Is this the 'transparency' and equality we should expect from the law?
Well, recently I changed my car and made sure that the 'tinting' - as we call it - of all the glasses (wind shield and side windows) was not objectionable to any of the traffic police personnel, even if they are having or not having the two essential things - luxometer and the copy of the Supreme Court's mandate!
Wishing you all happy and safe driving and thanks for your patience to read through this.
