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Traffic Division's huge fine collection

SABRINA KARIM MURSHED
The Traffic Division of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) realises at least 60 lakh Taka every month on an average in fines for violation of traffic rules.
Only last month, DMP Traffic's north zone reportedly collected 42 lakh Taka in fines while the south zone received 36 lakh Taka.
"People in our country have an innate tendency of disobeying rules. They do not follow safety precautions like wearing helmets while riding motorbikes even though it is for their own good," said Md. Feroz Al Mujahid Khan, deputy commissioner (DC), Traffic (North).
"Our traffic sergeants abide by the order to wear helmets, but the general public pay no heed to such instructions," said Khan adding that at least 12,000 cases had been lodged for disobeying traffic rules in March and April this year and a large number of the violators were charged for not wearing helmets.
In most of the cases, drivers are disciplined for violating the red signal or for parking in noparking zones. Also, cases are lodged for not having necessary documents like route permit, registration, tax token and fitness certificate.
The fine ranges from Tk 50 to Tk 500.
Usually, fines are paid at offices of DC Traffic. In some cases a warrant is issued against the defaulter if he does not pay up even after a long time. The Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's Court then collects the penalty. The DMP's 'warrant tamil (execution) group' keeps watch on the roads to nab the defaulting vehicles and when sends them to the court.
High officials of DMP Traffic attributed the large collection of fines to strict enforcement of traffic rules. "The enforcement could be tougher but it becomes hard to apprehend violators during rush hours as that could cause traffic congestion. Already, some drivers avoid the Gabtoli to Azimpur corridor as rules are followed
very strictly on that route," said Mujahid Khan.
Despite the DMP's claims residents have complained that often traffic officials harass them unnecessarily and even files cases or fines the driver despite finding the documents up to date. And those who are really guilty also manage to get out of trouble by bribing the police.
"I have been stopped more than three times in front of the Motijheel police station for traffic violation. On some occasions, the on-duty traffic official said that he could 'fix up' everything if I gave him Tk 1,000," said Hamid Ansary who works at a private company. Many others like Ansary also claim that they bribe traffic officials just to avoid harassment.
The DC Traffic (North) however said that the authorities take stern actions against corrupt law enforcers if specific complaints are lodged.
"People can come to me directly with names of such traffic policemen with evidence," he said.
DMP Traffic submits the entire amount of fines collected to the government as revenue. "We deposit the collected money in banks everyday," said Khan.
A highly placed source in the DMP said that recently a proposal has been submitted to the government to give 50 percent of the total amount of collected fines to the Traffic
Division. "According to the proposal 40 percent of it will go to the staff and officials as incentive and 10 percent will be used as equipment cost of the division," the source said.