- Bribe Fighter
- 11 years ago
- 2636 views
It was a street beside Chennai central and there were two policemen…
It was a street beside Chennai central and there were two policemen monitoring the traffic. I parked my bike a little inside the street, left to buy a book, came back and started my way back to home. When I slowly came out of the street, a policeman stopped me and told me that I should not come out of the street that way as it's one way. I pleaded guilty for not noticing that it is one way and apologized. The policeman did not let me go and told me that I should pay a fine of 1100 rupees. I told him that I did not have the money ready, gave him the keys of bike, as per his demand to do so, drew the money in a near by ATM and came back. He then asked me to give 300 rupees and I paid him accordingly. He returned my keys asked me to leave. When I asked him for a receipt, he told me that I should pay 1100 rupees to get a receipt. I told him that I will pay whatever amount one should pay so that one can get the corresponding receipt. Then he took me to a place where there were more policemen with the necessary equipment to issue receipts and I was made to wait for more than 45 mins. to be issued a receipt after I paid 1100 rupees. During my wait more than one policeman tried to convince me that I may leave paying only 300 rupees without getting a receipt, but I held my stance. When I finally got the receipt, I was surprised to see that I was charged under two offences. 1. GP05 No entry. 2. GP45 Driving dangerously(Negligent Driving). I could not argue with the policemen that I was not driving dangerously and violated only the "No entry" rule(honestly not sure whether that was really one way too) for two reasons. 1. It took almost 2 hours for this process to complete, and I had to drive almost 30 kms back to my home in abundant traffic that day. 2. I did not know whether it is at the policemen's disposition to decide whether I was really driving dangerously. The following are my questions from this simple experience of mine:
1. In case of traffic offence, how does a citizen get to know the amount of fine that is charged according to the offence committed? Is there any chart or catalog?
2.Who decides on the question of dangerous driving? If the citizen who is alleged of such an offence wants to prove his innocence, how can he do it?
3. Had I paid 300 rupees without getting a receipt, does it amount to a bribe?
4.The policeman threatened that he could seize my bike and take it to some police station(which I could not afford) if I don't pay some money. Which offences result in the policemen seizing the bikes of citizens? Who decide on that?
I still have the receipt with me. Here are the details:
Challan no. : C1681328671
Date and Time: 4/9/2013 06:28 PM
I am honestly awaiting your response. I am not complaining against any individual. Instead, I am seeking a just way to deal with these questions. Thank you.