Think again if you believe you can evade the law by breaking traffic regulations when no policeman is observing. The Bengaluru Traffic Police (BTP) has turned on its head in its approach to habitual and serious traffic offenses by not only just laying fines but by filing First Information Reports (FIRs) against habitual and serious traffic violators.
The plan is meant to stem the city’s chaotic traffic and influx of accidents. The department has also initiated registering the FIRs at jurisdictional traffic police stations for violations such as jumping signals, driving in the wrong direction on one-way streets, and parking haphazardly on busy roads, according to Anoop Shetty, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), West Division.
Stopping Out Rampant Offenses
The move springs from stunning statistics from the past year. Bengaluru had a whopping 6,62,447 cases of signal jumping and 3,02,962 no-entry or one-way offences between January and November 2025. These two specific offenses are not minor inconveniences, but cause the majority of traffic accidents, as well as gridlock, police said. Following the new protocol, the police are using the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) to punish offenders:
- Obstruction of Public Way: Cases of dangerous or obstructive road navigation are being filed (especially with auto-rickshaws and taxis parked near bus and railway stations) under Section 285 of the BNS.
- Reckless Driving: In an effort to save the lives of other commuters, they are being booked for signal jumping (Section 281 of the BNS (Rash driving or riding on a public way)).
Termination of 'Pay-and-Forget' Culture
Before, traffic violators would endure a spot fine, and frequently commit the same crime shortly thereafter. This more FIR-based approach has been a far greater deterrent. Once an FIR is registered, police take the vehicle. The offender must then approach the court to obtain the vehicle and pay the fine. “Once FIR is done, the legal process is long and lengthy. We think this will serve as a great psychological and practical deterrent for commuters who tend to be rule breakers,” a senior official said.
Special Focus on Hubs
The police are taking particular note of places surrounding major transit corridors viz Majestic, Yeshwantpur and Cantonment where auto-rickshaws and private vehicles frequently park in congestion on the main carriageway. By filing FIRs, the police aim to open up these arterial roads and keep the thousands of daily commuters crossing these corridors on a smooth course.
