Nashik: Zone II police take action against drunk drivers

NASHIK: The Zone II police organised a drive against drunk driving in different parts of the city on Wednesday between 2 pm and 4 pm .
Zone II DCP Vijay Kharat said the aim was to check drunk driving in the afternoon hours. This would also help the police keep an eye on criminal elements, including chain-snatchers, he said
The drive was conducted by the Nashik Road, Upnagar, Satpur, Ambad and Indiranagar police teams in their respective jurisdictions.
Kharat added that in the run-up to the New Year, a large number of revellers indulge in alcohol consumption. Many also take the wheels after drinking. The senior officer said that continuous action against drunk drivers over the next few days — until the New Year’s Eve — would send across the point that the police are coming down heavily on drunk drivers.
Strict action has also been planned against drinking liquor in the open. A large number of people consume liquor at roadside food stalls during the year-end festivities. The police said that apart from the Ney Year’s Eve bandobast against drunk drivers, they have already started keeping a vigil on roadside food stalls to check if anyone is consuming liquor there.
There are also many bars and restaurants located on the outskirts of the city. Many revellers from the city go to these bars and permit rooms, and they drive while intoxicated while returning to the city areas.
Senior officials of the city traffic branch said that motorists, in their own interest, should refrain from drinking and driving. Those caught driving in an intoxicated state are slapped with a fine of anything between Rs 10,000 and 12,000 by the motor vehicle court. The police send all the drunk driving cases to the motor vehicle court.
Police officials said that driving under the influence was exteremly dangerous that threatened the lives of motorists and general citizens on the road. While the police are not against the consumption of liquor, all efforts are being made to ensure that people do not drive after drinking.