In first quarter, BTP issues 9,794 challans for drunk driving, rewrites records

Bengaluru Traffic Police issues record 9,794 drunk driving challans in Q1 2026, enhancing enforcement and license suspension measures.

In the first three months of 2026, Bengaluru Traffic Police (BTP) have booked a whopping 9,794 drunk driving cases, the highest in the last five years, highlighting increased enforcement.

However, recommendations for suspending driving licence (DL) remain below 1,500, accounting for less than 20% of the total challans issued, despite the BTP introducing measures to increase recommendations aimed at curbing drunk-driving behaviour.

In Bengaluru, when caught drunk driving for the first time, a hefty fine of ₹10,000 is levied and can attract up to one year of imprisonment. For a second offence, the fine increases to ₹15,000, along with up to two years of imprisonment. In both instances, the BTP can recommend to the Transport Department that the violator’s DL be suspended.

“Earlier, we had to send the original DL to the Transport Department, but violators used to evade this by showing photos or photocopies of their DLs,” a senior traffic police officer explained. According to the officer, driving without a licence attracts a ₹1,000 fine. In many cases, violators paid ₹11,000 in total (for drunk driving plus riding without a DL) and got away without having their licence cancelled.

To plug this loophole, the BTP and the Transport Department reached a consensus that the latter would consider suspensions even if the BTP submitted a photocopy of the DL, not just the original, according to the officer. “Thereafter, we have seen an increase in the number of suspension recommendations, but it is still low and needs to be strengthened,” he admitted.

M.S. Gautham, professor in the Department of Epidemiology at NIMHANS, explained that DL suspension is paramount because it complements enforcement by the BTP. Implementing additional measures such as awareness campaigns, along with licence suspension, can go beyond mere enforcement and help shape the behaviour of violators.