On Monday, officially declared No Horn Day, the Mumbai traffic police, in a fell swoop, fined thousands of drivers for violating honking rules in the city. The count up to 6 pm was 6,195 cases.
Beginning Monday night, the cops plan to crack down further and prosecute offenders under the Environment Protection Act, which has far more stringent penalties: this act, which can be used in cases ranging from bursting firecrackers or blasting loudspeakers after 10 pm to honking at night, has a maximum fine of Rs 1 lakh depending on the severity of the offence.
"This will prove an effective deterrent to errant drivers," joint commissioner of police Hemant Karkare told TOI. "However, this move is at a preliminary stage. We need some more preparation before we go the whole hog."
Karkare declared that the crackdown against shrill and reverse horns, unnecessary honking and honking in silence zones would go on. When a journalist mentioned that SRK felt that No Horn Day should continue for a week, he riposted, "It's not one day or one week. This will now continue permanently."
Karkare will meet NGOs and activists on Wednesday to discuss a long-term plan to control traffic noise pollution. The efforts of the NGOs which participated in No Horn Day will also be recognised at a function at 5.30 on April 9 at the Worli traffic police headquarters.
DCP, traffic, Harish Baijal, whose brainchild No Horn Day was, said he was very happy with the response. "Last night, I sent one crore SMSes via various mobile service providers to raise awareness about No Horn Day."
Beginning Monday night, the cops plan to crack down further and prosecute offenders under the Environment Protection Act, which has far more stringent penalties: this act, which can be used in cases ranging from bursting firecrackers or blasting loudspeakers after 10 pm to honking at night, has a maximum fine of Rs 1 lakh depending on the severity of the offence.
"This will prove an effective deterrent to errant drivers," joint commissioner of police Hemant Karkare told TOI. "However, this move is at a preliminary stage. We need some more preparation before we go the whole hog."
Karkare declared that the crackdown against shrill and reverse horns, unnecessary honking and honking in silence zones would go on. When a journalist mentioned that SRK felt that No Horn Day should continue for a week, he riposted, "It's not one day or one week. This will now continue permanently."
Karkare will meet NGOs and activists on Wednesday to discuss a long-term plan to control traffic noise pollution. The efforts of the NGOs which participated in No Horn Day will also be recognised at a function at 5.30 on April 9 at the Worli traffic police headquarters.
DCP, traffic, Harish Baijal, whose brainchild No Horn Day was, said he was very happy with the response. "Last night, I sent one crore SMSes via various mobile service providers to raise awareness about No Horn Day."
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