Traffic cops collect Rs 1.4 Crores in penalty

BANGALORE: The Bangalore Traffic Police in the last 43 days, have booked 69,661 traffic violation cases and collected a whopping Rs 1.4 crore penalty from violators. Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic and Security),  Dr M A Saleem, who has introduced several new initiatives to bring discipline among commuters, has cracked a whip on traffic violators.Thanks to the technology adopted by BTP, traffic personnel can take note of violators even sitting at a control room. The BTP recently bagged the Golden Peacock Award for effectively using the technology and collecting over `50 crore as fine amount in the last year.“This generation mainly depends on technology. Our department has brought in many changes to the city’s traffic with the help of latest technology.”“A dedicated team watches CCTV footage to record evidences and register cases. Also, we make use of other facilities like SMS,  video violation record, infrared voice record and enforcement camera, and around 280 blackberry phones keep a tab on the offenders,” said Saleem.He said the department has recommended cancellation of 827 licences last year. This year, in just over 40 days, they have recommended impounding 324 licences. The department has now placed a proposal to procure 300 new blackberries. The cost of each new phone is around Rs 8,000. The traffic department has written to the Karnataka Road Development Corporation Limited for approval.