KOLKATA: All 25 traffic guards across the city have been instructed to stop any car or bike with ‘police’ sticker to verify whether it actually belongs to a cop or not.“If it’s found that anyone using the sticker is not a cop, sergeants will pursue the matter with local police station and a case of criminal impersonation will be lodged. The vehicle can also even be confiscated,” said an officer.An order was issued to all guards late on Thursday evening, instructing them to prepare and maintain a list of policemen using two-wheelers and four-wheelers with police stickers.“We have drawn up a schedule on how we are going to go about the job. With elections round the corner, we will not allow any biker or motorist to flaunt police sticker to bypass rules or avoid prosecution for flouting norms,” said an officer from a north Kolkata traffic guard Several individuals outside the police force use such stickers or put temporary boards with the word ‘police’ written on it as a licence to violate traffic rules and avoid paying toll.“Some use the sticker to impersonate as cops and fleece unsuspecting motorists who have jumped a signal or violated some other traffic rule,” claimed an officer.The stickers are easily available in the market and can be purchased for Rs 10 to Rs 15.City lawyers said the Motor Vehicles Act is silent on use of such stickers but cops can start cases under the Indian Penal Code if those are misused.“There is a security threat too and there have been a number of representations in courts earlier to protest against the use of such stickers,” said lawyer Badal Sen Chowdhury. He also said that cops can book cases against motorists if the stickers obstruct the view of the road and of the interior of the vehicle.

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