As if dealing with the maddening traffic of Mumbai is not enough. Traffic police are now up against a "prank email" circulating for the past fortnight, "educating" motorists about their rights. The mail tells motorists that the traffic police cannot stop them to examine driving licences and/or vehicle documents as they are "against the law".
"It is a prank mail bearing a fictitious name of an additional commissioner of police," Nandkumar Chougale, deputy commissioner of police (traffic), said. "We have approached the cyber cell of the Mumbai police to register a complaint and trace the sender."
The two-page mail also says that a policemen cannot penalise a motorist for not possessing an insurance or emission certificate. Circulating for nearly a fortnight now, the mail has made motorists sit up and read about their "rights". Result: Traffic cops checking vehicles and examining licences are having to cope with defiant motorists who boast to have knowledge about the law.
"Initially, when our constables told us about these arguments, we were intrigued. Gradually, we saw a pattern and realised something was amiss," a senior traffic official said on condition of anonymity. "A week ago, we came to know about the mail."
The email also guides motorists on how to "take action" against policemen who ask them for documents. "The best way to teach the police a lesson is to file written complaints with their higher-ups and, a week later, use the Right to Information (RTI) Act to know what actions have been taken against them. Remember, any question or application filed under the RTI Act cannot be ignored, and no official is bold enough to ignore the Act," the mail states.
The mail mentions the name of one Praveen Sood, additional commissioner of police, along with a traffic control room number for registering grievances. "A lot of confusion has been created. It seems that the sender is trying to play mischief with the police. We will ensure strict action," the senior senior traffic official said.
How to make cops pay
The 'prank email' guides motorists on how to "take action" against policemen who ask them for documents
The best way to teach the police a lesson is to file written complaints with their higher-ups and, a week later, use the RTI Act to know what action has been taken against them
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