Haggling with Cops
Krish Ashok has an interesting post on games Chennaiites play. Game three, the usual cop and biker haggling is something which I’ve observed close hand.
Some time back, my friend came to Chennai from Bangalore on his bullet. The bike being registered in Bangalore had a Karnataka registration.
While driving round the city, mid afternoon, a cop catches him.
Cop: Vandi Niruthu, KA registration, NOC kattu
Friend: NOC illai, naan iniku morning dhaan vandhan
Cop: Compulsory-a NOC podanum
Friend: Rendu Naaluku ellam poda mudiyathu. Amma appa pakka vara koodathu nu sollerangala? Avanga deivam madri, avanga pakka varathuku NOC podanum na varathu kastam. Adhuku melai, neenga ellam vandi pudikerangala? Madras-Bangalore highway la daily evloav vandi AP, KA registration oda varuthu? Avan ellam NOC podarana?
Cop: Seri Seri, Annan rumba nerama veiyal la nikkaren, Thambi edhavathu seingittu po.
(My friend gave him 10 rupees and went away)
Another friend had an even more interesting experience at 7 am in the morning.
Its 6.45 am, and my friend jumps the Kaliappa Hospital Signal on Ra Puram First Main road. Its early in the morning and is hardly any traffic. Jumping signals is the usual practice in Chennai, its done after 9.45 pm in the evening and till traffic density increases in the evenings.
As luck would have it, there is a constable on duty, who catches my friend.
Cop: Red la edhuku vandhai? Compulsory fine kattanum
Friend: Saar, kalan karthalai saar, traffic illai saar, adhunala dhaan
Cop: Seri paper ellam irukka?
Friend: Irukku saar,
Cop: Seri pocket la evloav irukku?
Friend: Saar avasaram saar, purse illai, kasu illai.
Cop: Seri, naan verum vairu oda nikkeran, andha tea kadai la poi, oru tea rendu vadai vangi kuduthutu po.
My friend being intelligent, forced the tea stall guy into giving a tea and two vadais for free.
NOTE: In both cases, the Cops are constables therefore they have a reluctance to note the number down and then issue notices, since they wont get any money.
This isnt anything new with respect the traffic cops at chennai…
It is not just the constables. Even the higher ups (sergents etc) take money. Just that the amt of money increases depending on their rank…
Sad thing is, the new Police Commssioner mandated the khaki clad constables to help the beleagured traffic cops during rush hour. Instead of being a genuine help, its being seen as an opportunity to make money. It is truly said that the only reason we are so far behind other countries is because of self serving attitudes.I wish some main line daily would do a sting operation or do an investigative story so that a solution to this endemic problem is at least discussed.
The face of police has to change. Police should not be paid [ bribed] any more to do their duty.
For the above two lines to happen, people should be ready to pay fine in court when violated except they have proper justification [ emergency ].
More over people should know their rights before handling the Police men. Can any one points me to a right url on Human rights regarding to this situation.
Let us make a better India !!!
Cheers – Ranjith
I could understand the first incident, but the second one baffles me. If even we, the educated mass, start breaking rules (here jumping signal) we have no right to tlk about the way the police act.
If you/we are law abiding citizens then you/we can complain about the cops.
i dont understand what is this thing called ‘educated mass’…as if education givs every virtue in life. Todays education is all business oriented, and the resultant mass is money minded and self serving. i know I am generalizing, unfortunately this can be easily true. Stop this crap called ‘educated mass’ which does nothing, not even raise a voice against a college guy smoking cigarette in a crowded bus. It takes a keeraikaramma to get the lad and/or cigarette thrown out
You must be ashamed for having friends who bribe cops rather than stand up. 1st guy I mean.
The second guy who did not stop at the signal is a weed in our society.
The COPS – They are the dumps in the society today, thanks to your friends!
I agree with the views of Ranjith.
Yes, running lights is extremely shoddy.. Particularly in the mornings where every one are on zipping speeds thinking that the roads will be “empty” in the mornings.
Cops – Utter disgrace to the city. Half the buggers dont know anything else except to ask for money.
D
NOC… that cop dint even deserve the 50 bucks… This shit is even pathetic in KA. Ride a TN reg bike/bullet and the cops there have a merry time. Even pathetic is that they would speak only kanada knowing very well that you wouldnt understand what they say/ask..
sigh.. !!
D
David ,
I had an experience of getting fined for sitting in door steps in Kerela. The police in the train spoke only malayalam and he kept himself away from English or Tamil and even the National language Hindi. That is a pathetic thing with respect to police men behavior across the country.
I rejected to bribe him and told that if I am fined I will come and pay the fine in the respective court.
Cheers – Ranjith
Somebody should start a “Hall of Shame” website and start posting pictures of all the cops accepting bribes.
Corruption in our country needs to end.
Dai Vatsa kuthimavane athule eppadi mama irukurangooo! Un friend enna Indiale yarum pannathathey pannitana da badu. Avunga rendu perume dubakoor, Padicha mutalungu! Police mattum ennada. Un friend antha idathule police karanaa ninna antha mathiri thanda pannuvaan. Eppadi un friends lancham kodukurangalo athey mathirii police karan lancham vanguran. So don’t fucking be biased just because the criminals are ur friends. U think all police men are assholes, well that ain’t true u pimp. Why don’t ur friends follow he rules and pathetic losers like u stop writing their misadventures here. Enna mama Vatsa athuku poda more kozambu uthi pundaika saptu nalla thoogu, chumma periya paruppu mathiree pesathada badu paiya. nee nejamavee kunju ulla ambalanaa poi Police vela paru mama and dont take bribe. First its not a game, its a shame on u to call it a game u play games in ur home with ur athukari okay . Take care u prick!
Dai Vatsa kuthimavane athule eppadi mama irukurangooo! Un friend enna Indiale yarum pannathathey pannitana da badu. Avunga rendu perume dubakoor, Padicha mutalungu! Police mattum ennada. Un friend antha idathule police karanaa ninna antha mathiri thanda pannuvaan. Eppadi un friends lancham kodukurangalo athey mathirii police karan lancham vanguran. So don’t fucking be biased just because the criminals are ur friends. U think all police men are assholes, well that ain’t true u pimp. Why don’t ur friends follow he rules and pathetic losers like u stop writing their misadventures here. Enna mama Vatsa athuku poda more kozambu uthi pundaika saptu nalla thoogu, chumma periya paruppu mathiree pesathada badu paiya. nee nejamavee kunju ulla ambalanaa poi Police vela paru mama and dont take bribe. First its not a game, its a shame on u to call it a game u play games in ur home with ur athukari okay . Take care u prick!
Traffic cops in a city like Hyderabad are often found challaning two-wheerists for helmetless driving or car drivers for driving without seatbelts, besides traffic violations.
Positioning themselves at vantage points like under tree shades in street corners with poor visibility, traffic cops, usually homeguards engaged for traffic beat, emerge from these places whistling at vehicle drivers or shouting if necessary to stop the vehicles. They then challan them for various omissions and commissions. Many times besides verbal antics, they also display anger if questioned.
One wonders why the very same traffic cops turn a blind eye to some sections of bikers going about without helmets and even triple riding, while the others are being challaned and penalised. Overcrowding in autos and double driving is common in the city. Here also they are let off, maybe because they are strongly unionised and led by powerful leaders. Average bike rider has no such support.
Similarly it is surprising to see two wheelers and cars towed on to traffic trucks for parking in `No Parking Zones.’ But autos parked in city bus bays, fruit carts and vendors who spread their wares and carry on business on roads and under flyovers are being let off.
The challan money collected by traffic cops goes to the Greater Hyderbad Municipal Corporation. The irony is the traffic dept has to get sanctions or funds from it even for painting zeebra lines at traffic signals. Often traffic cops are abused for taking action or challaning, even when vehicle drivers jump red signals or ride beyond speed limits in ramshackle vehicles. It does not mean one is holding a brief for the omissions and commissions of traffic cops. But selective policing and selective application of rules invite unsavoury remarks from the people.
The city has a population of over 60 lakh. Vehicle population hovers around 18 lakh of which 13 lakhs are two wheelers, three lakh autos, about 3,500 RTC city and metroliners besides other vehicles. Plagued with perennial staff shortage, what kind of traffic regulation the trafic dept can enforce in Hyderabad.
Problems in traffic contriol maybe similar with little variations in others cities also. Traffic and road sense is equally necessary among vehicle
drivers. Drink driving, speed driving, overcrowding, rule violations all contribute for chaos on roads.