Cops take steps against misuse of beacon lights

BHAGALPUR: The district police have initiated steps against unauthorized use of red VIP lights in the district in a stern step against misuse of beacon lights on vehicles. Notices have been served by the district police to many so-called VIPs who are taking advantage of leniency in enforcement of statutory provisions of Motor Vehicles Act.

Sources said the notice clearly mentions the stopping of use of beacon lights on their vehicles with immediate effect, failing which legal action would be taken against offenders as per the Motor Vehicles Act.

This step by the district police has been lauded by the people, while at the same time, it has caused unease among habitual proscribed users. ‘Memsahibs' (wives of so-called VIPs), who use such vehicles for shopping, are most likely to feel the pinch of police action against unauthorized users of beacon lights.

Some important persons who have been issued notices are vice chancellor of Tilka Manjhi Bhagalpur University (TMBU), Bhagalpur mayor, deputy mayor, besides other persons including a former mayor and political leaders. Several politicians, TMBU officials, some judicial and government officials besides others who are not authorized and permitted by any statutory provisions, are using beacon (VIP) lights. According to sources, some people who are not entitled, but use beacon lights in order to create `impression' and throwing their ‘weight' on the society. Several incidents in the past, in which riders of vehicle with beacon light entering into altercation with traffic police and common public, have also compelled the district police to take such action, said an official.

It is also being used unauthorizedly to take their vehicles through "no entry and restricted roads" besides illegal parking at no parking zone, said official sources adding that most of the times, vehicles with unauthorized beacon lights are used by ‘memsahibs' (wife of so-called VIPs) for shopping in the no entry zones.

Bhagalpur SP Kundan Krishnan said on Thursday that notices have been issued to streamline the usage of beacon lights as per statutory provisions and directions. "Legal action would be taken against all those who flout the statutory provisions, government rules and regulations," he said.

The government under the provisions of Central Motor Vehicles Rule, 1989, has authorized only a handful of persons to use beacon light on their vehicles. As per statutory provisions, authorized persons at divisional level are divisional commissioner, RIG, DIG, DM, SP, income tax commissioner, district judge, ADJ, ADM, CJM, Civil SDO and DSP.

Besides, at the district level, persons like governor, CM, Speaker and deputy speaker (state assembly and council), chief justice and other justices (high court), attorney general, lokayukta, cabinet and other ministers, leaders of ruling and opposition parties, chairman (public service commission), state election commissioner, chief secretary, DGP, secretaries of several departments besides other designated persons can use these vehicles. Hailing the measures, a businessman of Sujaganj locality said that it is welcome step as it would restrict parking of ‘lalbatti' (unauthorized beacon-fitted) vehicles in front of their shops causing blockade