Tinted car glasses an eyesore for Mumbai cops
How they pounced! Last Sunday, without adequate warning, cops stopped cars all over the city to levy a `100 fine for those sun-shielding film screens, whatever the shade may be — absolutely light or intensely dark.
I was jolted by a cop at the toll booth of the Worli-Bandra Sealink, who looked at me as if I was Rasputin reborn. Anyway, so practically every car in town sports shade screens, but the sudden swoop-down was typical of the authorities. Catch motorists unaware, demand to see licences, leave no room for discussion (did see quite a few launching into arguments though), and make an enormous collection in penalties. And what if I didn’t have cash in the wallet. Would they have accepted credit cards?
But then that’s Mumbai. Agreed that the rate of crime has to be reduced drastically, but will clear windows help the police force?
Do hope that statistics in wake of the penalty drive point towards results. Really, I can’t even understand what the daily naakabandis achieve, except for offering the regular sight of sub-inspectors and constables spending their work-hours looking ill-at-ease amidst the bumper-to-bumper traffic. And like it or not, at signal lights, traffic cops still aren’t above accepting a little chai paani money.
For quite some years, the top brass of the police has been trying to alter its image in the public mind. Since I knew a senior inspector at Gamdevi, he had asked me to compose and proofread their pamphlets, which were distributed among the people of the neighbourhood. Plus, a couple of video films were shot demonstrating that the cops are “friends and not foes of the people”. Niiiice.
Families of the constables were also invited for education awareness talks accompanied by tea and snacks. Now, this was at least some five to six years ago. Do wonder what’s going on currently?
For sure though, the Sunday swoop down by the traffic cops, won’t help in the image-correction. A pity that because several top cops I’ve met of late, are infallibly upright and eager to help, rather than to ruin your Sunday evening.
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