RULES FOR THEE, NOT FOR ME

RULES FOR THEE, NOT FOR ME

1-NOV-ENG 3

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

PATNA----------------------In an incident that has sparked intense public outrage and reignited fierce debate over administrative accountability, a viral video circulating across social media platforms shows a female traffic constable in Patna riding a motorcycle without mandatory headgear while carrying out a deliberate attempt to evade law enforcement technology: her vehicle’s registration plate was obscured using adhesive tape.

The video—broadly circulated across media groups under titles such as "Wearing Uniform, Mocking the Law!"—strikingly highlights a growing perception of institutional double standards. While average commuters in the capital of Bihar face stringent surveillance, automated heavy penalties, and vehicle impoundments for minor infractions, personnel tasked with enforcing road safety are caught openly defying basic traffic regulations.

The footage, filmed on a smartphone by a bystander and subsequently distributed across digital news outlets and messaging platforms, presents a clear sequence of violations.

The video captures a female officer wearing full official uniform operating a two-wheeler along a busy stretch in Patna without wearing a helmet. Section 129 of the Motor Vehicles Act makes protective headgear compulsory for all two-wheeler riders and pillion passengers. Yet, the officer navigated public thoroughfares completely unequipped, presenting a conspicuous posture of non-compliance in broad daylight.

What elevated the incident from a routine traffic infraction to a criminal act of administrative misconduct was the state of the vehicle’s rear registration plate. The alphanumeric characters on the license plate were intentionally covered over with thick black tape.

Under traffic laws and anti-crime mandates across India, obscuring or altering a vehicle’s license plate is a major offense designed to conceal identity, prevent detection by Automated Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) systems, and evade electronic challans (e-challans). When executed by a uniform-bearing traffic officer, the act serves as a direct attempt to circumvent the very digital enforcement network she is employed to support.

The video's release triggered immediate and intense criticism from local residents, daily commuters, and civic commentators. The core of the public anger centers on the contrast between how law enforcement treats civilian motorists versus its own personnel.

"If a common citizen rides 100 meters without a helmet or has a dirty license plate, integrated traffic management systems issue automated fines worth thousands of rupees instantly. Yet, here we see an officer covering her number plate with tape to evade those exact cameras. Why are the rules different depending on whether you wear a uniform?"

Over recent years, the Bihar State Government and Patna Municipal Authorities have invested heavily in upgrading urban road monitoring infrastructure. High-definition CCTV networks, automated speed detection radars, and AI-driven ANPR cameras line major intersections across Patna. For the average citizen, failing to wear a helmet, carrying a third passenger, or driving with expired documents leads to non-negotiable fines issued directly to their registered mobile devices.

The perception that police officers enjoy structural immunity—or worse, actively sabotage detection tools to ride with impunity—severely damages the credibility of these high-tech safety drives.

Legal experts and retired law enforcement officials note that traffic violations committed by on-duty or uniformed personnel are not mere traffic infractions; they represent a breach of public trust and official protocol.

Taping over a registration plate is a common tactic employed by vehicle thieves, illegal transport operators, and reckless drivers attempting to bypass automated toll booths and speed cameras. When a traffic officer adopts this practice, it signals deliberate premeditation to break the law while escaping electronic traceabilty.

Statewide initiatives across Bihar continuously emphasize that helmets cut two-wheeler fatality rates by up to 42%. Police departments frequently run awareness campaigns handing out warnings or educational materials to non-compliant riders. When public-facing officers refuse to wear basic safety gear, public safety messaging loses its authority and persuasive force.

Following the viral spread of the footage, citizen groups and legal commentators have outlined specific demands directed at the Patna Traffic Police Department and the Bihar Police Headquarters:

Utilizing internal duty rosters and location tracking to identify the constable shown in the video.

ssuing compound traffic fines (challans) for helmetless riding, riding with an altered license plate, and failure to present clear registration details.

Initiating formal disciplinary proceedings for conduct unbecoming of a public servant and bringing disrepute to the police force.

Issuing an official statement detailing the corrective action taken to reassure the public that enforcement applies equally to all.

The incident in Patna is not isolated; similar videos of law enforcement personnel disregarding helmet rules, riding overloaded two-wheelers, or driving unregistered vehicles surface regularly across urban centers in India. However, the deliberate act of taping over a license plate marks a troubling escalation from passive negligence to active evasion.

For police leadership, resolving this incident requires more than issuing a single ticket or temporary suspension. It demands a clear policy commitment: law enforcers must be held to a higher standard of compliance than the public they serve.

Until senior officials demonstrate that uniformed violators face identical—or stricter—penalties as everyday citizens, public compliance will remain reluctant, and automated traffic management will continue to be viewed with skepticism.