Police to put brakes on bike racing

Will Keep An Eye On Marine Drive, Confiscate Offenders’ Licences And Inform Their Parents

Mateen Hafeez I TNN

Mumbai: Youngsters can no longer race their mean machines along Marine Drive.
A drive will be started in the south region—spreading across the jurisdiction of more than 16 police stations—in which the police will do their best to completely stop such racing. If caught, the youths’ parents will be informed and their driving licences confiscated.

This is the initiative of additional commissioner of police S Padmanabhan and deputy commissioner of police Sanjay Mohite. To implement their plan, the senior officers have asked local police stations to set up nakabandis at all major junctions. “We have caught 23 youngsters last night for dangerous driving. While riding, besides their own, they put others’ lives at risk as well,’’ said an officer. Early on Thursday, the policemen, under various traffic offences, collected a fine of Rs 50,000.

Marine Drive is the favourite racing track for these bikers. During Ramzan, which ended just three days ago, a number of youths would take out their bikes every night and zip across the city, dangerously. They come to Marine Drive from various part of the city and bet on individual as well as group racing. They usually ride at around 100 kmph. In some cases, those who lose, even have to surrender their bikes to the winner.

“Moreover, the youths remove the silencers of their bikes, causing noise pollution. It sends a feeling of lawlessness in the city,’’ the source added. However, the policemen are yet to decide on the horns that create noise pollution.

Police stations have been instructed to form teams for nakabandis. “We have also told our men not to chase such bikers as that might cause an acc i d e n t , ’ ’ added another officer. “Whenever we will catch such bikers racing on the roads, their parents will be called. Initially, we will book them under the Motor Vehicle Act and if they repeat it again, they will be booked under the IPC for rash driving,’’ he added. The cops also plan to book book them under non-bailable sections.

The Times of India, September 25, 2009