ATMs to the 'rescue' of traffic offenders

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The police are meant to serve and protect, though the public notion seems to be just the contrary. However, in a bid to bring the department closer to the public, the law enforcers have decided to adopt an unconventional technique, of saving the honour of wrongdoers.

The City Police are all set to launch a new system, called e-challan, which would help persons booked on petty charges to pay the penalties without even going near, let alone visiting, a police station. The new system is expected to be launched by the second week of November.

With the new system, persons booked by the police have the option to pay the penalty via ATM counters. The department has joined hands with the State Bank of Travancore for the implementation of the project. Persons who receive a notice from the police can access the nearest ATM counter to pay the penalty.

"Even though the police have been on a drive to improve its relationship with the public through various schemes such as community policing system, many people are still afraid of us. They find it extremely shameful to enter a police station; however, they do not feel the same while violating rules, like skipping a red signal," said City Police Commissioner Manoj Abraham. He added that it would be the motor traffic offenders who would benefit most out of the system as it would make things easy for them to pay fines.

The people can also pay the penalty through Akshaya Centres, in addition to ATM counters, the Commissioner said.

At present, the offenders receive a computer-generated notice on which the charge against them is printed along with the photo evidence captured by surveillance cameras. Once the new system is launched, a challan with a unique identifying number code will also be issued.

According to the police, a large number of people booked on petty charges fail to appear at the police station to pay the penalty out of shame. But this in turn makes matters worse, as they would have to be summoned before the court to settle the case, which is a rather time-consuming affair.