New Delhi, May 29: Travelling in a car with red beacon may be a matter of prestige for some people, but they may land in trouble if found not entitled to install a beacon light in their vehicles.
Delhi Police is launching a massive drive from June one to check the unauthorised use of beacon lights, during which it will check vehicles having such installations to know whether the commuter was entitled to have it.
“We have noticed that government officials and politicians flaunt red beacons on their cars though they are not entitled to use them. We are launching the drive from this Wednesday,” a senior police official said.
During the drive, the official said, police would also check government vehicles to ensure that officials who are entitled to beacon lights use it. Earlier, police was looking for unauthorised use of such lights in private vehicles. According to statistics, Delhi Traffic Police has challaned 106 private vehicles for unauthorised using red beacons so far this year as against four last year during the same period.
Police is also writing to various government departments advising them that officials not entitled to use beacon lights should refrain from using them.
According to Central Motor Vehicles Rules, President, Vice President, Prime Minister, former Presidents, Chief Justice, Lok Sabha Speaker, Cabinet Ministers, Planning Commission Deputy Chairperson, former Prime Ministers, Leaders of Opposition, judges of Supreme Court and High Courts can use red light with flasher on top of vehicle.
Red Light without flasher can be used by Chief Election Commissioner, CAG, Deputy Speakers in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, Attorney General, Cabinet Secretary and Chiefs of Staff of three defence services among others.
Beacon lights must be covered with black casing in case the vehicle is not carrying the entitled dignitary, the rules say. PTI
