RTO to impound vehicle, licence of those caught without helmet

PUNE: The Pune regional transport office (RTO) has said it will start impounding, with immediate effect, the driving licences and even the vehicles of those not wearing helmets or fastening their seat belts.

Senior RTO officials said such vehicle-users would also have to mandatorily take a two-hour counselling session.

Instructions to this effect were issued during a video conference involving the state chief secretary, regional transport officers and the police on Thursday.

Speaking to TOI, Pune regional transport officer B I Ajri said, “We will implement the system at once. If a person is caught by an RTO inspector or the police for not wearing a helmet or putting on the seat belt, both the licence and the vehicle will be impounded immediately. The person will then have to undergo a two-hour counselling session with us or the police. Till the violator completes the formalities, the vehicle or the licence will not be returned.”

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Ajri said the same rule applies even to those riding pillion on two-wheelers.

Deputy commissioner of police (traffic) Tejaswi Satpute could not be reached for comment.

Ajri said the RTO is ready to host the counselling session if police have space constraints. “Our inspectors have not been catching riders not wearing helmets as we are facing a manpower shortage. However, we will now crack down on traffic rule violations with immediate effect. The riders/drivers will also have to pay a fine,” he said.

Ajri said a driving licence could be impounded from 10 days to 180 days depending on the nature of the offence. “For example, if a person is caught driving while drunk, the licence can be impounded for 180 days. Similarly, a 10-day suspension is the norm for jumping a red signal, overloading or talking on the mobile phone while driving,” he pointed out.

During the counselling session, offenders will be educated on the dangers of violating traffic rules. “Pune has around 51 black spots and we have received instructions to make them safer. Once the counselling is over, the vehicle and licence will be returned provided the offender gets a helmet,” Ajri said.