500 jaywalkers fined by DMP mobile courts

Staff Reporter :The Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s (DMP) two separate mobile courts fined at least 500 jaywalkers for not using the foot over-bridges and under-passes in the capital on Tuesday while crossing the road.The mobile courts conducted drives from Ruposhi Bangla hotel to Farmgate between 8:00am to 5:00pm. It will continue till November 30.Dhaka South City Corporation’s (DSCC) Executive Magistrates Sarwar Alam and Abdul Kuddus imposed fine on the lawbreakers at Banglamotor, Sonargaon and Farmgate intersections.The range of fine was Tk 20 to Tk 200. However, no one was reported to have been sued, DMP sources said. Magistrate Sarwar Alam said that he had punished at least 180 passers-by imposing fines of different amounts because of violating the traffic rules.Magistrate Abdul Kuddus told reporters that about 350 people were fined at Banglamotor for not using foot over-bridge. However, shortage of manpower crated some problems for us to control jaywalkers.Rakib, who had been fined, said, “I was not aware of the drive. But it is a good initiative,” sources said. DMP Deputy Commissioner (traffic) Khan Mohammad said that the drive would make pedestrians conscious so that they use foot over-bridge and avoid jaywalking. Additional police were deployed asking pedestrians to use foot over-bridges and avoid jaywalking between Ruposhi Bangla hotel to Farmgate, he said. Several notice boards were being displayed along the road to draw the pedestrians’ attention, the police official said.Earlier on Saturday, the DMP announced that the traffic rules violators would be fined from Tk 50 to Tk 200 and they could also be jailed highest six months.