From November 1, 2009, Mumbai Traffic Police has banned the usage of cell phones while driving. They have started impounding the Driving License (DL) of errant drivers, who need to produce themselves before the Court and in case the Court is not satisfied with the genuineness of attending the call for emergency reasons, the DL is to be sent to the concerned RTO for making appropriate notings against the DL registration.
Yesterday, I just managed to save myself from this ordeal. To begin with, I must clarify that I make it a point not to make or receive phone calls while driving and ensure that I park the vehicle in case I need to attend a call. Sometimes though, if the call is urgent and it's difficult to park the vehicle to attend the call, I receive the call and utter "I'm driving, call u back in a while!" and hang up. I have also completely ceased to reply to any sms while driving.
But yesterday in the evening, I was stuck in traffic (no movement at all) for over 15 minutes near Safed Pool and my cell phone's ringtone played on - it was an expected and urgent call. Leave apart parking the car, I was not even in a position to move by a centimeter, it was a bumper to bumper situation. As it was destined, I received the call and even before I uttered anything, the car ahead of mine moved a bit and I saw 2 traffic sergeants staring at me. I uttered "calling you back" in the phone while one of the sergeants was waving his hand asking me to get the car aside. I realised, I was in trouble and chanted my mantra - "when in trouble, keep cool!". The sergeant guided me to a path 100 metres ahead where I parked the car and got down. Here follows the conversation:
Me: Yes, sir. How can I help you?
Sergeant (S): DL please.
Me: Sir, there was so much traffic that I did not have any place to park to attend the call. And you had seen that I hung up after saying "calling you back".
S: Receiving the call is an offence. DL please.
Me: Sir, I understand that. (handed over my business card) But you would appreciate that I am also a public servant and I expect your co-operation.
S (glanced at both sides of my b-card, one printed in Hindi and the other in English and his tone mellowed down): Sir, you'll have to deposit the DL, it's my duty.
"He has mellowed down and is addressing me as 'Sir' now; I guess, he can be managed and I need to act authoritatively now" I said to myself and handed over the DL.
S: Oh, West Bengal license. It'll have to go to that RTO for checking your records.
Me: I do not want to submit my DL. Please tell me what can I do for you and what you can do for me.
S: (started scribbling something on his challan pad) Sir, I have to meet my targets and I cannot do anything.
Me: I do not get time on weekdays so I do not want to submit my DL. I would prefer paying you the fine in cash now.
S (stopped scribbling and took out a a bundle of DLs from his pocket and started counting them): Sir, these are just 12. I have to make at least 20 cases to meet my target for the day.
Me: It's a weekend and it's just 4 pm now. By 8, you would easily find 8 more victims. You need to help me out.
S: Sir, all I can do is change the case and make it a 'no parking case' and you can collect your DL directly from Powai Police Station on Monday. I guess, you stay in Raheja or Nahar.
Me (wOw, this guy is smart - knows my current address despite the DL bearing my Kolkata address): Raheja Vihar. But I do not get time on weekdays and I do not want to get into that hassle. And if I have to send anyone from my office in BKC, you know how things in a sarkari office are. Can we settle it in cash now itself? I'm in a hurry, please.
S: Let's sit in the car.
We sat in the car; I put on the ignition, turned on the air-conditioner and handed him the bottle of water which I invariably always carry. He sipped around 200 ml, placed the bottle back and asked me to drive towards the way to Kaju Pada road; Thereafter, I was asked to park at a place where there wasn't much crowd.
S: Sir, the fine for using cell phone is very high.
I took out a Rs. 100 note and handed it to him (wish I had currency of half it's denomination).
S: Sirr....(I interrupted!)
Me: I know the fine is Rs. 100 only and this is okay. And if I can be of any help to you in future, you can call me on the numbers mentioned on my card. Btw, I forgot to ask you your name.
S (handing over my DL to me): Vivek Sir, I'm Jadhav and I'm at Powai Police Station when not on field duty! We'll see each other again.
Me (wondered, "he would've been some Yadav but has changed it to Jadhav just to escape the vandalism of a certain regional political party :p"): Thank you, but I do not really wish to see you for this same reason again.
He...he...he....both of us giggled and he got out of the car. I drove ahead!
Okay, I know what I did was not the appropriate thing to do - I actually bribed Mr. Jadhav. But then, the rationale behind the same is that in a busy city life, why do I need to go from post to pillar to pay the same amount which I can actually settle upfront at the spot? Why doesn't the Government come out with a system for spot fine payments instead and increase the fine amount considerably to curb offences? Perhaps, the only reason I can figure out is - "How else would such Mr. Jadhavs and his colleagues make a killing, then?"
