As towing ban continues, complaints of haphazard parking shoot up

Patrolling traffic police are managing the show by issuing notices after recording offences through cameras

It has been over two months since the Tigers — the traffic police towing vehicles — were taken off the road due to a series of complaints, but the Government is in no mood to reinstate them despite a revised plan being submitted during February-end.

With no hope for Tigers and the growing parking menace, the traffic police have resorted to sending notices after recording the offence through enforcement cameras and FTVR (Field Traffic Violation Report) devices issued to the traffic police on duty.

“We are using the available manpower to check on the parking menace on the busy roads and adjacent bylanes, which was somehow contained by Tigers. Now, with the absence of Tigers, the patrolling traffic police are managing the show by issuing notices and recording offences through enforcement and FTVR cameras”, a senior police officer said.

The traffic police are also creating awareness using public awareness system about haphazard parking. However, the present manual system is not as effective, the police admitted.

Outcry

In February this year, the Karnataka Government suspended the operations of towing vehicles following public outrage over a series of incidents of harassment from the staff. Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai asked the traffic police to come out with revised policies and SOPs for towing vehicles.

Joint Commissioner of Police (traffic) B.R. Ravikanthe Gowda, after consulting DCPs, ACPs, PIs, and the public and traffic experts, came out with a revised plan and SOPs to ensure that the motorists are handled with sensitivity.