Kolhapur: Taking strict action against traffic violators, the Kolhapur city police’s traffic branch has focused on taking action against those violating the traffic rules by not wearing helmets.In the initial phase, the action has been initiated against the officials working in several government offices and riding their motorcycles without using helmets. The traffic cops have fined as many as 50 people working in various government offices in Kolhapur city in the last three weeks.Anil Gujar, police inspector in-charge of the city traffic department said, “We have taken action against 50 people with government jobs in Kolhapur city and the maximum number of violators have been from the police department. We have not spared anyone for violating the traffic rule of driving a motorcycle only while wearing a helmet.”“As per the guidelines of the Supreme Court, it is mandatory for every motorcyclist to wear a helmet and there is no need to issue special orders in this regard. The respective authorities from government offices have issued instructions to their staff to wear helmets while driving motorcycles and we are carrying out our duty of taking action against those government servants that violate the rules,” said Gujar.“This drive will spread awareness among other people who ride motorcycles without wearing helmets. Taking legal action against government servants for violating the helmet norms will become an example for the general public about the awareness of wearing a helmet and will help them realize that no excuse will work if they are found driving a motorcycle without wearing a helmet,” he said.When questioned about extending the traffic police’s action against riders other than government employees he said, “Wearing a helmet is compulsory for everyone while riding a motorcycle, as per the law and it is not in our jurisdiction to ask any private office or industry to make wearing a helmet compulsory for their employees. Even the decision taken by government offices is not on our instruction. Hence, we will continue our action against those found violating the helmet rule, irrespective of them being government or police officials. For now, we have focused our drive against government and police officials, which will gradually cover all the other people as well.”

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