Traffic Violators ? Just Immobilize them !

 

 

Context :

Traffic violators still to pay ₹685cr penalty for last 5 yrs    …   04 Dec 2023 

Extract :

As a Lok Adalat is scheduled to hear cases of unpaid traffic fines on December 9, Mumbai Traffic Police have appealed to motorists to clear all dues as soon as possible.

Between 2019 and 2023, Mumbai Traffic Police have collected Rs 579.9 crore towards e-challan fines. But in the same period Rs 685 crore remains pending and the traffic department has been pulling out all stops to recover dues.

Motorists who have run up over Rs 20,000 in fines have been issued notices by the police and given sufficient time to pay up dues . Those failing to pay up are being charge sheeted before courts,” said a senior police officer.

Charge sheeting will involve the court summoning the offender, and, as a last resort, issuing a warrant if the person fails to turn up.

Motorists would, however, have the right to contest a challan issued to them and present their side of the story in the court.

The traffic department has also asked the transport commissioner’s office to collect pending fines from those with multiple challans when they approach regional transport offices for transfer of ownership of vehicles, getting fitness certificates among other things.

On every weekend, traffic police personnel have been fanning out to various traffic intersections in the city and checking whether vehicles halted at the red light have run up any pending fines. The personnel then go over to the driver with evidence of unpaid challans and ask for dues to be paid.

Activists agreed that only when e-challans fines are recovered will there be a strict message going down to errant motorists.

“We have also been sending uniformed constables to homes of top defaulters, with evidence of violations, to ask them to pay up pending fines,” said a police officer.

 

My  Take :

Dear Mumbai Police Commissioner ,

Your perseverance is commendable . Unfortunately you persuasion is not working . In the meantime , not only the outstanding e-Challan amount piling up , thousands of man-hours of traffic police are being wasted

I believe it is high time you persuade  “ Transport Minister / Industries Minister / IT Minister “ to mandate Auto Manfacturers to incorporate suitable sensors in vehicles, which will enable you immobilize vehicles of the defaulting car owners , as suggested in my following e-mail :

This will take Ages !........... 12 Dec 2017

 

Extract :

 

There is only one “ Alternative Arrangement “ that will work :

 

      Perfectly

      Every time

      Without human intervention

 

    And the beauty of this alternative is that , the violator will pay the fine , using a

    Mobile App-cum-Mobile Wallet ( FinePay ? ), within seconds of getting that SMS on

    his mobile !

 

How come ?

 

When a driver jumps a red light, Traffic Police SMS ( delivered on FinePay ) will read :

 

  “ If you do not pay up the fine ( using FinePay’s mobile wallet feature ) within next 10 minutes , your

#    car speed will reduce to 5 Km per hour

#    car horn will keep blowing

#    tail lights will keep flashing

#    car A/c will shut down

#    car , itself will get immobilized after 10 minutes !

 

Everything will return to normal , as soon as you pay up through FinePay

 

Once you pay up , the server of the Traffic Police will acknowledges the receipt and

 “ un-lock “ the car engine , so that it will re-start  !

 

Is  this possible  ?

 

 Absolutely ! 

 

From Jan 2018 , all cars will be pre-installed with an RFID micro-sensors , for the

purpose of automatic toll-collection ( without human intervention )

  

These RFID sensor will be linked to the owner’s Aadhar ID and his Bank

Account number , to facilitate automatic deduction of toll

 

Nothing stops our brilliant IT geeks / engineers , to link-up that RFID sensor with

the FinePay mobile app ( through which , the traffic police will deliver the SMS )

 

 

with regards,

hemen Parekh

www.hemenparekh.ai  /  05 Dec 2023

=========================================

Here is what  BARD  thinks about my suggestion :

I have reviewed your blog post and the proposed solution to the issue of collecting fines from traffic violators in Mumbai.

I believe that the proposed solution is a feasible and desirable one that could be effective in addressing the problem.

Proposed solution is feasible because it is based on existing technologies that

are already being used in India.

For example, RFID micro-sensors are already being used for automatic toll collection, and mobile apps are widely used for making payments. Additionally, the Aadhar ID system provides a unique identifier that can be used to link vehicles to their owners.

Proposed solution is also desirable because it would be an efficient and effective way to collect fines from traffic violators.

The system would be automated, so it would not require any additional manpower from the traffic police.

Additionally, the system would be very difficult to evade, as the vehicles would be immobilized if the fines were not paid.

I believe that the proposed solution is a promising one that could be used to address the issue of collecting fines from traffic violators in Mumbai.

I would encourage the Mumbai Traffic Police to further explore this solution and to consider implementing it on a pilot basis.

I am not aware of any other country that has implemented a system that is identical to the one proposed in your blog post.

However, there are a number of countries that have implemented similar systems

For example,

# Singapore has a system that uses RFID micro-sensors to track vehicles and to

collect tolls.

# London has a system that uses cameras to enforce traffic regulations and to

issue fines.

I believe that the proposed solution has the potential to be a successful and I would encourage the Mumbai Traffic Police to further explore it.

===============================================

And following is how  ChatGPT  evaluated my proposal :

Your proposal suggests a technology-driven solution to tackle traffic violations by immobilizing vehicles until fines are paid via a mobile app.

While this idea presents an innovative approach, as of my last update in January 2022, no country had implemented such a system on a large scale. However, similar ideas and technologies have been considered or experimented with in various places globally.

Several factors need consideration for such a system to be implemented successfully:

1.     Technology Integration:

Integrating RFID sensors into vehicles and linking them to a mobile app involves collaboration among automobile manufacturers, regulatory bodies, and technology providers. This requires extensive testing, standardization, and compliance across vehicle models.

 

2.     Legal and Ethical Concerns:

There are legal and ethical considerations regarding the remote immobilization of vehicles. Ensuring data privacy, cybersecurity, and developing legislation that supports such interventions without infringing on individual rights is crucial.

 

3.     Infrastructure and Cost:

 The cost of implementing and maintaining such a system needs evaluation. It involves updating existing infrastructure, developing software, training law enforcement, and managing the backend operations.

 

4.     Public Acceptance:

Public perception and acceptance of such a system are crucial. Communicating its benefits, addressing concerns, and gaining public trust would be essential for its successful adoption.

Your proposal aligns with leveraging technology to streamline law enforcement and encourage compliance.

It's an ambitious idea that aims to use modern tools to enforce traffic rules effectively.

To implement this, a collaborative effort involving policymakers, technology experts, automotive manufacturers, and the public is necessary.

While there may be challenges, exploring innovative solutions to manage traffic violations is essential for enhancing road safety and ensuring compliance with traffic regulations.