OMG: 'Drunk & Drive' collection in crores

New Delhi, June 11: In a shocking news, the traffic police of Hyderabad have imposed a fine of Rs.2 crore since January 1 this year on drunk driving, registering 9,516 cases which have resulted in the imprisonment of 1,699 persons, till April-end.

The number of drunk driving cases booked by the traffic police has seen a steady rise each month this year. The rise was expected to be much higher in May, whose data analysis is yet to be completed.

The spike in May figures is anticipated as there had been heavy sales of beer in peak summer.

"In March, we have booked 1,602 cases while in April alone 2,550 drunk driving cases were booked," said Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Anil Kumar, adding that driving licenses of 69 offenders have been canceled permanently.

According to the data provided by the city traffic police, 9,648 charge-sheets were filed against the violators till April this year.

"In April alone 1,904 charge-sheets were filed and 381 persons were sent to jail for a period ranging between one and 30 days. The court also suspended three driving licenses for a period of five years," he said.

The official said that most of the violators caught during the enforcement drive were below 30 years of age.

When asked why the drives were being conducted only during weekends, a traffic police official said that they were also conducting random checks throughout the week.