I was on my way to office on my bike and was running a little late for a 9:30AM meeting. So the red traffic light irritated me. I overtook most of the vehicles waiting there and stood close to the zebra line. I realized that I'm on the yellow line and had crossed the yellow line while overtaking the vehicles. Looked around to see if there was any traffic cop. There was one standing right after the traffic signal. I wished if some vehicle came and stood by my right side. I felt like a school boy who has not finished his home work and is looking for classmates who are in the same situation.
As if to make my wish come true, a private bus came and stopped by my right side. The bus was completely on the other side of the yellow line blocking vehicles coming from the opposite side. There are times when I get relieved when others violate law. This was one such occasion.
The traffic light turned green in a few seconds. The private bus overtook everybody, came to the extreme left and stopped a few meters after the traffic signal. There was chaos as everyone was trying to overtake the bus. I got stuck behind the bus. To my dismay, the traffic cop stopped me. For some reason he was not interested in the private bus. He had seen me crossing the yellow line and asked me to show my "papers".
"Your pollution certificate has expired last week. You'll have to pay Rs 200 extra for that. So your total fine is Rs 300 " He said in local language.
My instinct was to argue that the bus driver committed a bigger violation. But I hesitated for 2 reasons. One - I did violate a traffic rule. Two - my command or rather the lack of it over the local language.
I paid the fine and hurried from there cursing myself for getting into that mess. A three wheeler overtook me spitting thick black smoke on my face. The traffic police didn't seem to be bothered about the pollution certificate of that vehicle. Or Maybe that guy had one. I've never seen anybody failing a pollution check in any of those pollution checking centres.
As if to make my wish come true, a private bus came and stopped by my right side. The bus was completely on the other side of the yellow line blocking vehicles coming from the opposite side. There are times when I get relieved when others violate law. This was one such occasion.
The traffic light turned green in a few seconds. The private bus overtook everybody, came to the extreme left and stopped a few meters after the traffic signal. There was chaos as everyone was trying to overtake the bus. I got stuck behind the bus. To my dismay, the traffic cop stopped me. For some reason he was not interested in the private bus. He had seen me crossing the yellow line and asked me to show my "papers".
"Your pollution certificate has expired last week. You'll have to pay Rs 200 extra for that. So your total fine is Rs 300 " He said in local language.
My instinct was to argue that the bus driver committed a bigger violation. But I hesitated for 2 reasons. One - I did violate a traffic rule. Two - my command or rather the lack of it over the local language.
I paid the fine and hurried from there cursing myself for getting into that mess. A three wheeler overtook me spitting thick black smoke on my face. The traffic police didn't seem to be bothered about the pollution certificate of that vehicle. Or Maybe that guy had one. I've never seen anybody failing a pollution check in any of those pollution checking centres.
Good one!!
ReplyDeletemay be the auto had a pollution certificate. and the bus is a wide vehicle.. are you not aware?
ReplyDeleteNo.. Return On Investment from the auto will be less..
ReplyDelete