Karnataka - Mysore   

Smiles, counselling greet traffic offenders

By Our Staff Correspondent

A counselling session for traffic offenders in Mysore.

MYSORE, DEC. 5. For once, offenders of traffic rules in Mysore received a different treatment from the Traffic Police. Those who had hitherto experienced the snobbish attitude of the police were treated with respect, and even given words of wisdom.

The niceties of the personnel did not end there. While offenders received advice and counselling at the Police Commissioner's office, they were also served with coffee and biscuits before fines were collected for the violations.

Educative scheme

The change in the approach of the Mysore Police is part of a scheme to educate offending motorists. Being implemented for the first time in the State, the Mysore Traffic Police held the second counselling session of the programme here today. With the new Police Commissioner, Praveen Sood, taking initiatives to reduce the number of traffic rule violations in the city, education and counselling for motorists have become the new mantra.

According to the programme, 30 offenders of traffic rules would be called to the Police Commissioner's office every Sunday and be tutored by a police official on traffic rules for 90 minutes. A majority of participants are booked for offences such as drunken driving, over-speeding, over-loading of vehicles, using mobile phones while driving, and driving without licence and other valid documents.

Notice sent

Sources said that violators were identified and given a notice to attend the counselling session. While the youth were being targeted, all kinds of traffic violators were summoned to the commissioner's office to undergo the counselling session.

While a majority of the participants grumbled during the sessions, sources said that a transformation in their attitude was noticed towards the end.

Stating that counselling was not being considered as a punishment, sources said that it was an educative exercise.

While an offender is educated through the counselling session, he can explain the importance of the exercise to his peers. For those who ignore the notice of the police to attend the counselling session, the fine would be doubled.

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