Challan on your phone the moment you jump red light: Chandigarh police

Beginning mid-May this year, the Chandigarh police is all set to start a pilot project in which special cameras will be installed at all key traffic junctions. Thus, any vehicle violating the law will be scanned automatically and the owner (as per the records of the Registering and Licensing Authority) will get a message informing of the violation and the resultant fine. The cameras installed at all traffic intersections will contain all the information on the vehicle based on its reading of the high-security registration number plates (HSRPs) and it is this HSRP that will help the cameras scan the vehicle and inform the owner about the violation via a text message. “ This project is on my wish list. We will start a pilot project soon. Technology will be a big help to us in coming days to nail traffic violators. We want to minimise human intervention,” said DGP Tajender Singh Luthra. He added, “ The Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) attached with the high security number plate will help us in tracking the violator. The camera will record the violation and a message will automatically get delivered to the mobile phone of the owner of the vehicle with the fine to be paid.” The DGP added that the department has also planned to recognise people who helped drunken people reach home safe after driving their car. Even as the department will train and depute some members of the force exclusively for the task, the project & lsquo Angel Friends', according to the DGP will be based on residents' feedback. “ People should not drink and drive. We want to encourage people to take a friend who does not drink with them to parties. People who help drunk people reach home safe will be considered an & lsquo Angel Friend' and we will give them a certificate of appreciation,” the DGP added, claiming that the city police will also see an exponential increase in number of body cameras with the force, from 20 to 500. Body cameras can be attached to uniform of cops and help in surveillance.

The new measures introduced by the Chandigarh police are highly appreciable. Owing to the rise in number of red light jumping and over speeding cases, this project initiated by the Chandigarh police is sure to deter a host of such offences. After the successful implementation of this project in Chandigarh such cameras should be installed in various other cities where traffic related offences are rampant.