The traffic wing of the Jalandhar Police Commissionerate collected a staggering Rs 4.36 crore in fines for various traffic violations during 2024. A total of 54,930 challans were issued for offenses ranging from underage driving, modified silencers, helmet-less driving, drunken driving to road encroachments.

This year’s collection marked a significant improvement in compliance compared to 2023, when Rs 5.25 crore was gathered from 73,813 challans. Police officials attribute the decline in violations to targeted awareness campaigns and special drives conducted throughout the year.

Of the total fines in 2024, Rs 3.67 crore came through manual challans, while Rs 59.77 lakh was collected via e-challans. Impressively, 6,953 of the total challans were issued digitally. Enforcement actions also led to the impounding of 2,095 vehicles, the registration of 15 FIRs and over 530 notices issued to violators.

As per traffic police officials, the key element of the police strategy was the designation of 17 roads as “No-Tolerance Zones” and one-way traffice to ease congestion and enhance public safety. High-traffic areas such as Adda Hoshiarpur, Jail Chowk, Kamal Palace Road and Railway Station Road were declared one-way from 8 AM to 8 PM.

They claimed that operating under an "Emergency Response System," they intensified action against common violations like drunken driving, triple riding and helmet-less travel. Section 144 notices were also served to curb illegal encroachments by shopkeepers and vendors, further improving road conditions.

In addition, the police organised awareness drives in schools, a move credited with reducing traffic offences among students. Officials say these initiatives are part of a larger plan to foster long-term behavioural changes among residents.