Unless there is ‘reasonable’ suspicion, traffic ranks are prohibited from randomly stopping vehicles to check documents, says Traffic Chief, Superintendent Ramesh Ashram. The official made this comment during a live call-in programme, “The Police and You” last evening.
Since he became Traffic Chief back in August last year, Ashram said that his policy has always been clear. That policy, he said, prohibits ranks from stopping vehicles and checking for documents, and arresting drivers for minor offences.
“[Ranks should] take [the] name and address and proceed by the way of summons. If the offence warrants a ticket, issue a ticket. And you breach these simple standard operating procedures of the force, you will be dealt with for disobeying the lawful orders,” the Traffic Chief said.
Ashram said that apart from the foot patrols, ranks from the bicycle patrols are also in the habit of stopping vehicles and soliciting bribes for minor traffic offences. He is calling on the public to report such instances.
“Traffic ranks are reminded on a daily basis not to stop vehicles on the road especially for minor offences [and] not to check for documents…But you will find some of these ranks – rogue ranks – will go out with one intention: to continue with this behaviour. Reporting them is good via phone or social media but its good if you can come forward and give statements so that we could take condign actions against them,” he said.
