Techies and professional from other states working in the city have approached additional commissioner of police (traffic) B Dayananda to instruct the lower-rung officials not to do the ‘RTO’s job’. Their allegation: Some traffic cops single out vehicles registered in other states even though they are not involved in any traffic violations and ask the owners to produce documents on tax paid in Karnataka, NOC received and other such documents.
Shefeeq, one of the petitioners, was reportedly penalised for reminding an SI that ‘checking tax details is not a traffic cop’s business.’ He was stopped near Town Hall. “First they asked me whether I had paid tax in the city and then asked for the documents to prove it, including NOC.
Waseem Memon who brought the issue to the notice of the traffic police brass said, “Can police penalise vehicles with number plates of other states? A reply has been given in the FAQ rather clearly. No. Police are not authorised to penalise any one for outstation number plates. This is not the mandate for the police.”
Speaking to Bangalore Mirror, additional commissioner Dayananda said, “If a vehicle registered outside the state is involved in any kind of traffic violation, the traffic police have every right to stop the vehicle, verify the documents including tax details and others.
However, some other traffic cops have a different opinion. “There is nothing wrong in the checking the documents. What if the vehicle is stolen from other states? Rules say the owner of the vehicle should possess all the documents while driving or riding on the road,” said an officer.
KERALA’S U-TURN
The Kerala government which had vehemently opposed the Karnataka government’s decision to collect lifetime tax on vehicles registered in other states, has done a complete turnabout. In its budget presented on Friday, the Kerala government proposed to introduce similar taxes for non- Kerala registered vehicles in the state.
