Cab operators protest against seizure of vehicles

Hyderabad, March 9 (INN): A delegation of Telangana State Cabs and Bus Operators Association (TSCBOA) called on senior officials of Hyderabad and Cyberabad Police Commissionerate on Monday alleging harassment through seizure of vehicles on the pretext of drunken driving.

The TSCBOA members called on Additional CP (Traffic - Hyderabad) Jithender and DCP (Traffic ' Cyberabad) Avinash Mohanty and also submitted memorandums in the offices of Police Commissioners M Mahender Reddy (Hyderabad) and CV Anand (Cyberabad) against the impounding of vehicles in drunken driving cases.

TSCBOA President Syed Nizamuddin said that the impounding of vehicles under Section 185-A of the Motor Vehicle Act in the drunken driving cases were badly hitting the travel industry. "The cab operators fully support the police drive against drunken driving. We are also in favour of arrest of the culprit drivers. However, we are strongly against the impounding of vehicles, which are owned by us," he said.

"There is a huge difference between a vehicle owned by an individual and a vehicle owned by a private operator. We make huge investments by taking bank loans, pay all the taxes and enter into legal agreements with different companies to ply our vehicles. Each hour and each kilometre means a lot for all of us. While nearly 50,000 cabs and buses are operating in the city, they are providing direct/indirect employment to about 5 lakh people. We hire the drivers if they are holding valid Driving License and have no criminal background. We also have clear rules that no driver should drive a vehicle in drunken condition. In some cases, wherein the drivers are driving the vehicle in inebriated condition, we are being punished for a crime which we have not committed," the TSCBOA said in its memorandum.

Nizamuddin said that the generic application of law has been causing hardship to the vehicle owners/private operators although they are not a part of the crime. "While the law permits impounding of vehicle, it also says that a vehicle can be released if the owner didn't know, and couldn't reasonably have been expected to know, that the driver was not permitted to drive the vehicle. Since we have clear instructions and rules that no driver should drive the vehicle under the influence of alcohol/drugs, in any quantity, our vehicles should not be seized," the TSCBOA demanded.

Nizamuddin said that the operators lose huge revenues and suffer heavy losses if their vehicle remains impounded for a longer period. For taxation, the RTA does not exempt the period during which the vehicle remained off-road due to seizure. Similarly, the banks/financial institutions do not wait for the EMI for the vehicles which have been seized by the police due to drivers' mistakes. "Our customers ask for replacement of vehicle and don't buy the contention that our vehicle is seized," he said.

They urged the Commissioners to direct the officials not to impound vehicles of private operators in drunken driving cases. However, they said stern action should be taken against the drivers indulged in drunken driving.

The TSCBOA members also furnished statistics related to accidents and claimed that the vehicles of private cab operators were not involved in fatal accidents, especially when compared to RTC buses. "It would be utter discrimination to seize vehicles of private operators and let off the RTC buses involved in drunken driving or accidents," they said.

The police officials have assured to look into the issue with different aspects and take a suitable decision on immediate basis.