Mobile phone use while driving can cost you license!

The next time you use mobile phone while driving do give it a second thought or your driving license could be cancelled without you even being stopped for the offence.
As a part of its recently launched system of shooting notifications to offenders on their mailing addresses, the Regional Transport Office has started focusing more on the use of mobile phones while driving.
And the directives against the use of mobile phone while driving are so stringent that offender’s license could be revoked— hinting that he would have to again to qualify the driving test.
Some designated officials of the Regional Transport Office authorized for the task take pictures of this or visible other offences, feed the number plate details in the computerized system, which generates the address for mailers.
Till now over 100 such notifications have been shot since the start of the drive last month, while officials said one license has already been cancelled for use of mobile phone while driving.
One such notification from the office of the Assistant Regional Transport Officer Mubashir Jan, a copy of which lies with Greater Kashmir reads:  “Whereas you were driving a vehicle bearing Reg. No (with held) at Bemina Srinagar in Contravention of R-21(25)CMVR-1989. Whereas the undersigned has power to disqualify you from holding or revoking your driving license under sect/on 19 of M. V. ACT 1988.”
“Now by the medium of this notice you are hereby given a notice to justify yourself within 7 days as to why action under rules shall not be initiated against you leading to suspension of your Driving License. Take note that in default adverse order will follow,” it added.
When contacted the ARTO confirmed to have issued the notices. “Licensing authority has powers to disqualify a person from holding a driving license if found violating norms and resorting to acts like use of phone which risk life,” he said. “This is just the beginning, we have more such plans in the offing, all aimed at safe driving and road safety measures.”
Sources said the initiative was given a go ahead by the Regional Transport Officer Mahmood Shah, who since last year has been undertaking such initiatives. “Basically we aim to make the drivers accountable to the system to its optimum so that violation of norms is checked,” Shah told Greater Kashmir.
Action against use of mobile phone while driving got a shot in the arm earlier this month when Inspector General of Police Kashmir AG Mir and the District Development Commissioner Farooq Ahmed Shah expressed serious concern over the menace growing in the City. Addressing the inaugural function of the Road Safety Week celebrations the duo pledged never to use mobile while driving and sought strict enforcement of norms.

Shri/Smt…………
 Whereas you were driving a vehicle bearing Reg. No (xxxxxx) in Srinagar City in Contravention of R-21(25)CMVR-1989. Whereas the undersigned has power to disqualify you from holding or revoking your driving license under section 19 of M. V. ACT 1988.
Now by the medium of this notice you are hereby given a notice to justify yourself within 7 days as to why action under rules shall not be initiated against you leading to suspension of your Driving License. Take note that in default adverse order will follow.

Regional Transport Officer