Pune traffic police have recommended the suspension or cancellation of driving licences belonging to 1,700 motorists accused of serious traffic violations, including drunk driving and dangerous driving on public roads. The recommendations have been sent to the Regional Transport Office (RTO), which is scrutinising the cases and has already suspended the majority of the licences, according to the police.
The action follows a continuing enforcement drive launched after the May 19, 2024, Porsche car crash in Kalyaninagar, in which two technology professionals were killed. Pune city traffic police have since intensified checks against motorists driving under the influence of alcohol and other serious road users.
Additional commissioner of police Manoj Patil said the police had repeatedly acted against drunk drivers, triple-seat riders and other traffic violators. The department has also compiled information on repeat offenders, including motorists found driving under the influence of alcohol more than once.
“The driving licences of such people were impounded, and the licences were sent to the RTO office along with a letter recommending their cancellation or suspension,” Patil said.
Police said 3,500 driving licences were recommended for suspension or cancellation last year. Of the 1,700 recommendations made in the current enforcement cycle, the majority have been acted upon, while the RTO is still examining the remaining recommendation letters.
According to the police, many of the motorists involved in the latest cases were driving cars or riding two-wheelers in an inebriated condition during November and December last year. The police said the number of such cases could rise this year as enforcement continues.
The procedure in drunk-driving cases includes an examination by the police and a medical examination at a government hospital. After the medical report is received, the traffic police prepare a proposal and forward it to the RTO, recommending suspension or cancellation of the person’s driving licence.
The enforcement data also points to the division of responsibility between the police and the transport authority. Traffic police identify and document serious violations, impound licences and submit case-specific recommendations, while the RTO examines those recommendations and takes the formal licensing action.
Police said motorists continued to violate traffic rules despite repeated warnings. Driving under the influence of alcohol can put both the driver and other road users at risk, making repeat-offender identification and action against driving licences a central part of the ongoing crackdown.
The RTO’s scrutiny of the remaining recommendations is the next step in the current action. Pune traffic police are also continuing to collect information on serious violations and repeat offenders for further proposals.