Motorists claim they are fined by wardens as well as Safe City surveillance system
RAWALPINDI:
Traffic wardens, alongside the Safe City Project’s surveillance system, have begun issuing fines to motorists and motorcyclists across the city, resulting in citizens being penalised twice for the same traffic violation.
Drivers report that when stopped by traffic wardens, they are fined on the spot for a violation and are then additionally issued a separate fine generated by the Safe City Project’s automated system for the same offence.
When motorists object, officials reportedly respond that the Safe City Project operates an independent, autonomous fining system, separate from that of the traffic police, and that both penalties must be paid to the government. Failure to do so, they are warned, may result in their vehicle being impounded.
The Safe City system automatically issues fines for offences such as jumping traffic signals, failing to wear seat belts, stopping beyond the stop line at signals, and taking illegal turns. Copies of these e-challans are uploaded to a shared WhatsApp record accessible to traffic wardens.
When wardens stop any vehicle — including motorcycles, public transport, rickshaws, taxis and vans — they check the record, and if a Safe City fine has already been issued, it is handed to the driver, effectively imposing a double penalty.
Drivers have strongly protested, stating that Safe City fines cannot be challenged on any forum and are treated as final. They allege that payment is mandatory in all circumstances, failing which their vehicles are seized.
Motorists Qalandar Abbasi and Asif Khan have called for the fining system to be reformed to make it citizen-friendly and for penalties to be reduced from Rs2,000 to Rs500.
The President of the Rawalpindi District Bar Association, Advocate Tariq Mahmood Sajid Awan, said that bar members have also lodged complaints regarding the fines. He added that the District and High Court bars will meet the City Traffic Police, the City Police Officer and the Deputy Commissioner this week to present these issues and seek a citizen-friendly resolution. The bar associations have strongly opposed the imposition of excessive fines.
