Daijiworld Media Network – Bangalore (NR)

Bangalore, Jun 27:  From now onwards Bangaloreans will have to rethink hard, if they feel they can get away with traffic offences by paying a mere penalty.

Now they will run the risk of being stripped of their driving license. This is due to the fact that the state government is planning to invoke the provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act - 1988 and the Central Motor Vehicles Rules - 1989 which empowers transport authorities to cancel driving licenses.

The transport minister N Cheluvarayaswamy stated on Tuesday that this action is being taken to stop repeated and dangerous traffic offenders and is geared at reducing road accidents. This new regulatory mechanism will be put in place within two months he said.

He warned that very often habitual offenders caught for traffic violations like rash driving and using mobile phones, just pay fines and move on. So now he wanted to instill the fear of law in such drivers. He further stated that if traffic offenders are caught committing more than three traffic offences, the authorities will be empowered to suspend licenses for a period of six months or even cancel them.

He concluded by firmly stating that in the meantime, the transport department will continue to intensify its drive against traffic violators.