Mumbai: The city has tightened its crackdown on drunk driving. Between April and August, the traffic police recommended cancellation of 1,117 licences, of which the RTO suspended 884 for six months.Since April, the police have been registering FIRs in drunk driving cases in addition to filing chargesheets in court and seeking fines. They have also begun displaying names of offenders on digital boards and social media, a move that coincided with cases dropping to 1,826 from 4,758 during the same period in 2024.“Since the special campaign began on April 4, traffic police have booked 1,826 motorists. Their names are posted on X, and licences are sent to transport authorities for suspension or revocation,” a traffic police officer said.Joint commissioner of police (traffic) Anil Kumbhare said the campaign is working. “Vehicles are impounded, licences suspended, names displayed on the social media platform X, and cases chargesheeted in court. Fines are imposed after trial. Earlier, Rs12,000 was deposited as security, which was later confiscated.”A senior RTO official said licence suspension for six months follows Supreme Court guidelines, with harsher measures for repeat or fatal cases: “Drivers are given a fair hearing before suspension.” Another transport commissioner’s office official said, “Anyone with over 30 mg alcohol per 100 ml blood is considered under the influence. The rules are stricter because drunk driving endangers lives.” RTI activist Anil Galgali said FIRs under BNS 125 finally treat drunk driving as a criminal act. “Flashing names has strong social deterrence value in India where family reputation matters, but authorities must ensure accuracy. Suspension should be instant and digitally linked with RTOs. Penalties should be slab-based — Rs10,000-15,000 for a first offence, Rs25,000 plus vehicle impounding for the second, and jail with permanent cancellation for the third.” He also suggested counselling, community service, or road safety workshops for first-time offenders.Former ADG (Traffic) BK Upadhyay, however, argued that the Motor Vehicles Act’s Section 185 suffices. “BNS cases have protracted trials. Digital naming may have a salutary effect, but licences should be cancelled for at least one year after due process. Penalties should include community service like assisting traffic police.”
