Traffic cops ‘earning’ their new year’s fees

By Dhara Kothari

Anything about traffic police in Mumbai is not shocking anymore. Since they cannot go on strikes and with their pay packet not satisfactorily; they have resorted to earning their own money. Mumbaites know that traffic laws are created only to help the traffic police to find ‘legitimate’ ways of harassing people to shell out their hard earned money.

On a simple road near the University in down town Mumbai, experienced an army of traffic police this afternoon with speedometers to catch any vehicle going even 5 kilometers above the snail speed that is allowed there. In 10 minutes that this citizen reporter was present, they caught at least two dozen vehicles and same number of bikes. The outcome? They extracted at least Rs. 100 from each. If calculated they must have earned a plump booty to celebrate New Year booze party. What exactly is the duty of a traffic cop? To help in a smoother traffic or to catch innocent drivers? Well the traffic signal is doing the work of the cop and the cop uses creative excuses to fool people into shelling out fines.

The counter part the Mumbai police will harass all clubs, restaurants and other venues when the clock strikes midnight. The excuse? The residents nearby have complained of the noise. Oh really? What happens when they complain to all night work on roads? Besides, are they really complaining? Everyone knows it is the New Year’s eve and the celebrations happen only once a year. Why would any person ever object, unless the noise is right next to them, on their bed! Agreed that cops too need to enjoy, but why at the cost of not so rich car owners?

Knock, knock is somebody really listening? Or are the cops all sizzled?