Mangaluru: Stories of people getting fined exorbitant amounts for violating traffic rules have been flooding the news ever since the new provisions of the new Motor Vehicle Act came into effect recently. The provisions have been widely criticised and trolled for the expensive penalties. While some people have managed to pay off the fines, several others have had to struggle. A similar situation was seen here in Mangaluru a few days ago when a college student had to pawn off his wristwatch and gold chain to pay a hefty penalty for violating the traffic rules.
According to sources, the student was riding a motorcycle, which he took from his uncle without permission, along with his friend. The traffic police caught him in Nagori, as he was not wearing a helmet. The pillion rider fled the spot after the police forced the 21-year-old student to halt.
The rider also attempted to flee, however, the police stopped him from doing so and asked him to furnish the vehicle’s documents. As the bike belonged to his uncle, the student did not have the documents in his possession and was, therefore, unable to produce them in front of the cops.
For violating several rules, the youth was charged a fine of Rs 7000 for the bike’s release. He then pleaded with the cops several times to leave him, however, his attemps went in vain. Helpless, he called his uncle over the phone and informed him about the situation.
Furious over the incident, the youth’s uncle refused to pay the fine and told him not to return home without the motorcycle.
Seeing no other option, the student left the spot and returned with the amount to pay the fine. When the police asked him from where he got the money, he told them that he pawned off his wrist watch and gold chain.
