the goan I network
PANAJI
Drunken driving which is one of the main reasons for post New Year revelry road mishaps is on the radar of the Goa Police who plan to crack down on it during the intervening night of December 31 and January 1. Director General of Police, Muktesh Chander has asked his men across police stations in Goa to crack down on drunken driving through the New Year’s eve.
“All police station in-charges and traffic circle in-charges should ensure that tonight, effective prosecution of drunken driving is done apart from traffic regulation,” the circular issued by the police boss said.
Reports of cases booked are to be relayed to the Police control room by noon on New Year’s day, the circular stipulates.
Goa has a history of road accidents due to drunken driving especially post the New Year’s revelry.
As per Section 185 of the Motor Vehicle Act, 1988, driving a vehicle with more than 30 mg of alcohol per 100 ml of blood is a punishable offence. As per this Motor Vehicle Act, which came into force back in 1988, the offenders only need to pay a few hundred rupees in fine. Cops have pointed out that since the fine was meagre, many drivers don’t hesitate to pay it.
Meanwhile, Inspector General of Police Jaspal Singh said there is around 40 per cent drop in the crowd this year as compared to last year during the year-end period.
Singh said, there was huge pressure of traffic on the roads last year but this year it is much less.
“We have not allowed tourists coming from neighbouring States to park their buses and cook along roadsides. If any such incident happens we have diverted them to open spaces,” he said.
As per police protocol department records, the number of celebrities and VVIPs visiting Goa to celebrate the New Year has also declined.
Except for a few judges, no VIP visited the state this year, unlike in the past when many celebrities including film stars made a beeline for Goa to celebrate the New Year.
Meanwhile. attendance was thin in most Government offices on Monday and in some cases all the top officials were on leave.
