No bribes – Traffic Chief warns motorists, cops to obey laws

Traffic Chief, Assistant Commissioner, Mahendra Singh has issued a stern warning to motorists against offering bribes to traffic ranks, reminding them that bribery is a criminal offence for both the person offering and the officer accepting. The advisory was issued during a recent Traffic Watch segment carried by another section of the media, where Singh stressed that road users must comply with traffic laws rather than attempt to evade penalties through illegal means. “I’d like to encourage the public, most importantly, that you should not be giving any traffic policeman throughout this country anything, any gift, any money, any reward to achieve anything,” Singh said. “You comply with the laws of this country… You don’t have to pay anything to anyone.”
He underscored that members of the Traffic Department are already compensated by the State and should not be soliciting or accepting payments from the public. “I want the public to be very clear on this. I am not appointed as the Traffic Chief of the country to let you know that you must pay me to do my work. I’m being paid from taxpayers’ money already. So are all of the rest of them in traffic department,” he stated. At the same time, Singh cautioned motorists against engaging in what he described as hypocritical behaviour, offering bribes and later accusing ranks of corruption. “Don’t be guilty of soliciting the help of that traffic policeman to forego prosecution and then… you want to say the police are demanding a bribe from you,” he said. The Traffic Chief urged members of the public to report any instances where officers demand bribes, noting that there are several avenues available for lodging complaints. “Where there is a demand, report it to the appropriate places. In the regions, there are the commanders, their deputies, there’s a traffic officer and a CID (Criminal Investigation Department) officer,” Singh explained. “If you don’t get the satisfaction… there’s the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR), and very importantly our Commissioner’s Office is always willing and ready to listen.” Singh also encouraged citizens to play an active role in holding officers accountable, particularly if ranks themselves are found breaching traffic laws. “If you know that a traffic policeman or woman… has his or her personal motor vehicle which is not in compliance with that legislation, you’re to take photographs and report it right away,” he said.
He noted that such reports should be supported with evidence and submitted promptly so that appropriate action can be taken. Looking ahead, Singh referenced upcoming measures to strengthen enforcement, indicating that both officers and the public will be expected to adhere strictly to the law. “I’d like to tell every traffic rank out there, you’re expected to comply; likewise, the public is,” he said. “No one is above anything… It is the law at the end of the day.” The GPF continues to urge motorists to obey traffic regulations and avoid engaging in unlawful practices, as authorities seek to improve transparency and accountability within the system.