It was 36 degree Celsius when I kick started my bike on a hot sunny humid afternoon in Adyar; was on my way to meet my friend in Alwarpet, which is about 5 km from Adyar. There’s this government order that all bikers must wear helmet, or pay a fine of Rs. 50. I was breathing in hot humid air, and the road was already smelling of tar, and the very thought of confining my head and visage inside a hot smelly cage (helmet!) made me ask my mom for two fifty rupee currency notes in exchange of a hundred rupee one. Yes, you guessed it; I was not planning to wear the helmet and was ready to pay Rs. 50 fine for disregarding the government order.
One of the many flyovers in Chennai…
From my vast experience of my encounters with dogs and traffic policemen, I never look at their eyes, and if I did, I’ve invited trouble already. One vague stare at a rabies stricken dog, it starts barking and comes running at you. It actually pains me to draw an analogy here, but the same kinda’ thing happened – there was this traffic policeman, who was in the shade of a flyover all that time, suddenly sprang in front of my bike trying to stop me. Well, I did two BIG mistakes, 1. not wearing helmet and 2. a vague look at the traffic policeman enjoying the cool shade under the flyover.
He gave me a menacing look and immediately removed the key from my bike – forcefully! I mean, what the heck, who gave him the permission to remove the key from my bike, or even to touch my bike. He did not have a pen and paper with him to note down vehicle registration numbers if people eluded him, and he’s just being clever removing the key, successfully preventing my evasion (I wouldn’t have evaded him anyways after being stopped by a police guy, as I respect his profession – I repeat, ‘profession’). Following was the conversation between me and the traffic police man (TP):
TP: Where’s you helmet? Don’t you know there’s a government order and I can fine you for that?
Me: Yes I know, but it’s very hot and I just can’t wear a helmet in this hot sun
of course, the entire conversation was in Tamil, and he was a bit amazed to know that I’m a patchai tamizhan (pure Tamilian!) Often, there are people who mistake me for a North Indian or a Mallu. So sad, all his plans of demanding bribe from me had come crashing to the earth!
TP: There are no personal preferences. This is the rule you ought to have followed, and now ‘m gonna fine you for not wearing helmet. But before I do that, let me check if you have driver’s license, insurance, vehicle pollution certificate and RC book, and ‘ll decide on the final fine amount if any of these is missing.
Before he could complete the above dialog, I counted at least 10 other bikers without helmet whizzing past the TP. Well, I produced the aforementioned documents, and he became a little more sad again as everything was up-to-date and couldn’t find fault with the docs. He also softened a bit after seeing the address, as the area that I come from is infested with VIPs and really-elite personalities. Thanks to them!
TP: So you ready to pay the fine? Fifty rupees please…
Me: Will I get a receipt?
He stares at me and goes searching for the receipt book hidden under the side box of his Enfield bullet.
TP (murmurs): hmpf, for the fifty rupees fine he needs a receipt
He returns with the long receipt notebook and starts scribbling my name, registration number and so on. God only knows what he wrote in them…
Me: Do you really think the helmet is going to protect me when all those Tata Indica, Tata Sumo (stands up to its name!), Chevrolet Tavera and Toyota Innova guys are driving recklessly and go scot-free just under your nose?
TP: We’re constantly watching them and book more than 100 cases everyday…
If that’s the case of enforcement, those cabbies should be behaving well, which sadly is not the case!
Me:What happens to the people who fall from the misplaced barricade stones that you’ve laid as medians?
TP: Those are temporary and we are studying the traffic flow, and will suggest for permanent medians when the studies are finalized
What the heck, those temporary block-stone medians have been lying around for more than 9 months; looks like a semester system of studying and giving a report. Strange!
TP: Here’s the receipt, and please wear helmets hereafter. Also, I suggest you collect signatures from people working in your company, and submit the petition to the higher authorities in the traffic department. I guess, learned people like you can make a difference and make the system better.
Me: Thanks!
Hmm, looks like suddenly he became an enlightened soul!? I guess the aforementioned scenario is not something new to anybody in any part of India. I’ve had similar experiences in Bengaluru while on a bike bearing Tamil Nadu registration number.
I will not blame the police for such a sorry state, after all they are highly underpaid, and hence they look out for various means to grab money from the people. When it comes to politeness and good manners, they would’ve never heard such words even in their mother tongue. These people need training, a really professional training; and the government must consider raising their income levels (’mean, through their payroll!) to enable a better quality of living. A sensible government would have enforced rules and regulated the auto-rickshaws; they are the prime violators of any rule – be it obscene tariff or driving.
We all pay tax, and we can expect at least good and sensible law enforcement. It’s sad that we’ve to live with these abnormalities, which are like malignant cancers spreading perpetually into many roots of our society. It’s imperative that this doesn’t get to a situation where the cops in an extremely under-developed poverty-stricken African nation are considered better-mannered and efficient than ours!
Will I live to see a golden-age!? Looks like this question has a short and sweet answer!
Picture from: Chennai Television
Tags: chennai, enforcement, Government, helmet, Society, Tamil Nadu, traffic, traffic-police
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Interesting post. But you know, I used to wear it in Delhi (in my college days)where the air boils and heat can hover above 49
Yeah I know, and ‘ve been to Delhi many times. The BIG difference between Delhi and Chennai is the humidity factor. Even if tis just 36 you will sweat and get drenched… I wear glasses, and the sweat just pours over the glasses if I wear a helmet…
I wonder why don’t they make helmets like the one race bikers use. Its made to keep things cool in the heat of the race.
Is there a rule that you cannot wear one of those. (I know they are not cheap as the plastic and fiber glass ones)
Not sure, never heard of one such thing from the helmet shops. Secondly, there is no value for money…I can still remember people buying normal full face helmets for 1100 bucks where they were worth just Rs. 800! There was a mad rush to escape police nuisance, more than justpaying the meager 50 bucks fine
There was a recent debate to ban certain full face helmets as it blocked face recognition.
nevertheless, you 50 bucks can be made into a good short story
how about it.
Lol, yeah
full face helmets also block the vision on the sides … it’s sad that we have to turn your head 70 degrees to ogle at a sexy female walking down the street…
now imagine that
Great Post!! I also had same experience here in Chennai manytimes!! Realluy, we can’t wear Helmet in Chennai at Hot Summer days.
True! ’tis not about just ‘not wearing’ helmets..tis the attitude of the police that turns me off..first of all, they must talk polite and realize that our tax money is their income…
I think this post reeks of the attitude that is going to drive our country into the ground, unless checked by the self-confessed ‘learned’ residents of VIP areas. Do you really believe that wearing a helmet on a hot or humid day is a choice? And are you a believer in Euthanasia also?
Of course, good to see a lot of flunkies with the ‘i pay tax, so cops better show gratitude’ attitude. Man, grow up. Do you realise how many spoilt brats like you these cops see everyday? Oh no, the rules cannot apply to you coz your daddy or uncle can spring you out if police-uncle speaks rudely to you!
Really sad, if these are the youth of tomorrow.
I think you better read the post again. I’m not complaining about wearing helmet on hot humid days, tis that there are so many important things that needs to be taken care of when it comes to traffic management than taking up a trivial thing like wearing helmet. Those unruly trucks and cabbies are ready to ram you down and drive over you and in my opinion this needs to be checked in the first place.
hey, is ur dad a cop?
don’t ever justify the attitude of the cops. I’ve been to many countries and I know the difference. People like you don’t speak up there, but write a comment without getting the context? comment for comment sake? very funny!
Hi
I agree with Anit. This is the popular image of the youth of today on 150ccs and yamahas. Police in the other country may be polite. I don’t know ‘cos I haven’t visited any. But I guess they are more law abiding than here. People get the police they deserve as they get the rulers. For they record I sweat a lot on head even when I am not wearing a helmet. But I wear a helmet even in extreme hot weather of chennai because I sincerely believe that it will save me for my family sake. Of course I meticulously follow the rules, and cursed for that, but still I may get into an accident because of those unruly motorists on road. By the way I always thought the fine for not wearing a helmet is Rs.100/- and my dad is not a cop:-)