Madhepura / Patna : Md Irfan, a resident of Bihar, was shocked to discover he had received a challan of Rs1,000 issued by the Purnia traffic police. The offence? Not wearing a helmet while driving – but Irfan owns a car, not a motorcycle.
The challan, issued for vehicle number BR11AG6502, listed the violation under standard helmet laws, which apply only to two-wheeler riders. What’s more, Irfan claims that neither he nor his vehicle was even in Purnia at the time. His car had been parked in Madhepura district.
According to reports, the error appears to have stemmed from an image taken by traffic police of a motorcyclist riding without a helmet. The digital system used to scan registration numbers automatically misread the plate in the image as belonging to Irfan’s car, and issued the fine without cross-verifying the type of vehicle.
When Irfan approached the Purnia traffic police to contest the fine, officials reportedly refused to offer clarity or consider withdrawing the penalty. He has since submitted a written complaint and is seeking cancellation of the challan.
The case has raised concerns about the reliability and accountability of Bihar’s digital traffic enforcement system, especially in light of a growing number of similar incidents.
Following the implementation of prohibition laws in Bihar, revenue generation from other departments, including traffic and mining, has come under pressure. This has led to an increase in traffic fines across the state, particularly for offences such as riding without a helmet, running red lights, missing pollution certificates, or driving without a licence.
