[tsk1979]

Supreme court is in New Delhi. The order will also work in New Delhi. 10kms from Delhi border, Jagratas blare all night, in violation of all orders, yet even calls to police will fail to stop this nonsense.
So whats the point of this judgement. I guess red beacon misuse will stop in New Delhi. But once you cross the border....? So this judgement happening or not happening has no effect on most of our lives. Congratulation to Delhi Wallahs!

[wilful]

Originally Posted by avisidhu

Don't know about other places, but here in North and specially in and around Chandigarh, the enforcement is close to 100%. It did take a couple of months, but even in Punjab where enforcement is pretty lax, one is unable to locate noticeable number of vehicles with sun films.

Although I have my doubts since firstly the policemen are scared to touch these vehicles, and even if they do there is no possibility of getting a bribe, so no incentive

Unfortunately, down here, the police did make some noises over removal of sun films but you could see it was rather half hearted (unlike the diligent enforcement of seat belts for cars and helmets for 2 wheelers - here again the seat belt rule has been diluted to only the driver). One does see vehicles plying around with sun control films right under the nose of traffic policemen. Difficult country to enforce these rules given the 'look the other way' attitude of the law enforcers.

[deetjohn]

I will be very glad if there is a ban on those big chrome plated shrill horns from Roots. Almost all cars in KL with beacons or name boards have them. Many a times, 4 of those proudly blocking the air dam.

This is the one I am talking about. http://www.rootsindia.com/html/megasonic.html And it is a serious health hazard.

[trtraj]

Originally Posted by scopriobharath

I was under the impresssion that these were already banned in india. Even before the judgement was passed, that was the rule. the thing is that it was NOT enforced. Policement for sure would not try to harrass an Army official's personal car. Common man flouting this rule would be miniscule.

Even the "wolf" horn in india is banned.

Not sure why the supreme court is re inventing the wheel

SC always jump in when the law is not enforced. But the saddest part is the Govt vehicles which has two fog lamps and two big horns mostly

Originally Posted by wilful

Well I suppose the state police forces will enforce this as diligently and uniformly as they have done in the case of sun control films. It will be interesting to see the exercise.

It was done just for a while in Chennai, Even after the commissioner asked the Inspectors and sub-Inspectors to bring the teared film sheets to their office, still the vehicles with flag posts never been stopped even if there is no visibility at all.

Originally Posted by Abeer

Such rules cannot be implemented unless and until the Police learns how to follow law. The policemen are afraid to touch/stop vehicles having beacons due to departmental action or transfers. Same is the case with buses/trucks that are using pressure horns as they get bribe from them which is then shared among all others.

What i feel is that the only way out is to stop have police under state politics and put them under central rules, like the Army or CISF.

Maybe even ask them to report to Army or CISF officers posted in the region. This might not stop the corruption completely but will do to some extent.

+1 to your thought

in addition i believe that it cannot be done unless we (public) work on it and teach our family, friends and children to abide the law. it would be the most appropriate way of bringing the discipline to the next generation at least.

My opinion is the most irritating horn is the musical one like ...keen,kon,keen, kon (Cabbies special)

OT: I personally feel that police is not policing but collecting, they let the people to jump signals and then catch them from a hidden place. This is Ridicule.

[Joe M]

I wish if the cops would catch the interstate buses who play music with loud air horns to scare smaller vehicles. That is, by far the worst memory I have about horns in our country.

I use horns a bit louder than OEM ones(not too loud, just a bit louder) just because of the pedestrian/driving culture on our roads. People just cross the road like they walk around their own home. And drivers take U-Turn into the fast lane even when they see a car nearing them, even on highways. A good horn can save lives in some of these situations and give us a more peaceful driving. By 'good' I didn't mean 'very loud' - but OEM ones are a bit insufficient, in many cases.

[wilful]

Just as expected, the enforcement dilemma begins. Times of India carries a report of violation in Tamil Nadu (beacons), a day after the order. Posting the link - http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/c...w/27233923.cms

The police are beginning to find their feet registering a remarkable drop in temperature as per this statement in the report - Traffic police aren't too sure if they can stop senior bureaucrats and party leaders. "An officer on the street can never stop and fine a top authority. Senior officials will have to decide amongst themselves how they will restrict use," said a senior police officer.

[tabrez]

Would be interesting to watch how the traffic cops would enforce this - especially the rule concerning the horn & I, for instance would be a happy bloke if this could be sternly enforced on those Indica/Sumo/Tempo Travellers who are no short of gun-wielding goons but on the driver seat, using their horns to unleash transgression upon commoner's such as myself on the road, down here in the south.

I really wish these morons are pulled out by the scurf of the neck & their horns dismantled. They absolutely have no regards for a school or hospital in the vicinity.

[schakravarthy]

The parameters mentioned are more of a thumb rule kind of thing. I personally find the stock shrill single-horns provided in, say a Splendor or an Activa, more disturbing than certain dual horns in cars!

[ashkamath]

Originally Posted by scopriobharath

I was under the impresssion that these were already banned in india. Even before the judgement was passed, that was the rule. the thing is that it was NOT enforced.

Even the "wolf" horn in india is banned.

Not sure why the supreme court is re inventing the wheel

The BBC news referred to says - The court's ruling came on a petition questioning the "indiscriminate use of red beacons and sirens"

So it is not about re inventing the wheel. In the context of the petition, the SC banned the pressure horns, multiple sound emitting horns and musical horns in vehicles. We are missing the context here.

And these shrill pressure horns are real pain in the ear and has thrown me off-guard many times while riding my motorcycle. Hope the implementation is in right earnest.

[PPS]

Full text of the Supreme Court order restricting use of Red Beacon can be read here:- http://onelawstreet.com/blog/2013/12...december-2013/

Some excerpts:

We shall first deal with the issue of use of multi-toned horns in violation of Rule 119 of the 1989 Rules and the corresponding Rules framed by the State Governments and the Administration of the Union Territories. Since the learned Solicitor General and the Additional Solicitor General are in agreement with the learned Amicus that the prohibition contained in Rule 119(2) on the use of multi-toned horns giving a succession of different notes or with any other sound producing device giving an unduly harsh, shrill, loud or alarming noise is absolute with certain exceptions specified in sub-rule (3), the only thing required to be done by the Central and the State Governments is to implement the prohibition in its letter and spirit. Their failure to do so for last almost 24 years is inexplicable. The contemptuous disregard to the prohibition by people in power, holders of public offices, civil servants and even ordinary citizens is again reflective of 'Raj Mentality' and is antithesis of the concept of a Republic. We feel that the only possible remedy to curb the menace of use of multi-toned horns is to impose exemplary fine on the violators and ensure its rigorous enforcement by the concerned authorities and agencies.

On the issue of use of vehicles with red lights, we were inclined to agree with Shri Harish Salve, learned Amicus that use of signs and symbols of authority such as red lights, etc., is contrary to the constitutional ethos and the basic feature of republicanism, but, on a deeper consideration, we have felt persuaded to accept the submissions of the learned Solicitor General and the Additional Solicitor General that the term "high dignitaries" used in proviso (iii) to Rule 108(1) of the 1989 Rules would take within its fold various constitutional functionaries, i.e., holders of the constitutional offices. When the framers of the Constitution have considered it appropriate to treat those occupying constitutional positions as a special category, there is no reason for the Court to exclude them from the ambit of the term "high dignitaries". The use of red lights on the vehicles carrying the holders of constitutional posts will in no manner compromise with the dignity of other citizens and individuals or embolden them to think that they are superior to other people, more so, because this distinction would be available to them only while on duty and would be co-terminus with their tenure. However, the Governments of most of the States and Administration of Union Territories have framed rules and issued notifications allowing use of red lights on the vehicles carrying large number of persons other than "high dignitaries". They have also used the power of issuing notifications to enlarge the list of the persons entitled to use red lights with or without flashers whether on duty or otherwise. Most of these notifications are far beyond the scope of clause 'c' of Notifications dated 11.1.2002 and 28.7.2005 issued by the Central Government. It also deserves to be mentioned that there has been abysmal failure on the part of the concerned authorities and agencies of various State Governments and the Administration of the Union Territories to check misuse of the vehicles with red lights on their top. So much so that a large number of persons are using red lights on their vehicles for committing crimes in different parts of the country and they do so with impunity because the police officials are mostly scared of checking vehicles with red lights, what to say of imposing fine or penalty.

In the result, we hold as under:
1. The term "high dignitaries" used in proviso (iii) to Rule 108(1) of the 1989 Rules takes within its fold the holders of various posts, positions and offices specified in the Constitution.
2. The motor vehicles carrying "high dignitaries" specified by the Central Government and their counterparts specified by the State Government may be fitted with red lights but the red lights with or without flasher can be used only while the specified high dignitary is on duty and not otherwise.
3. The State Governments and Administration of Union Territories cannot enlarge the scope of the term "high dignitaries" beyond what is prescribed in clauses 'c' and 'd' of Notifications dated 11.1.2002 and 28.7.2005 issued by the Central Government. Therefore, they shall amend the relevant rules and notifications to bring them in tune with the 1989 Rules and notifications dated 11.1.2002 and 28.7.2002 issued by the Central Government. This exercise must be completed within a period of three months.
4. The men in uniform; operational agencies which require un-hindered access to the roads for performance of their duty; those engaged in emergency duties such as ambulance services, fire services, emergency maintenance etc, and police vehicles used as escorts or pilots or for law and order duties shall not be entitled to have red lights but lights of other colours, e.g., blue, white, multicoloured etc.
5. No motor vehicles except those specified in Rule 119(3) of the 1989 Rules or similar provisions contained in the rules framed by the State Governments or the Administration of Union Territories shall be fitted with multi-toned horns giving a succession of different notes or with any other sound producing device giving an unduly harsh, shrill, loud or alarming noise. 6. The police officers and other authorities entrusted with the task of enforcing the provisions of the 1988 Act and the Rules framed thereunder must discharge their duties without any fear or favour and should impose appropriate penalty on those who violate the prohibition contained in Rule 108(1) and Rule 119 and similar rules framed by the State Governments and the Administration of Union Territories. The owners/users of the vehicles fitted with multi-toned horns other than those allowed to use such horns under Rule 119(3) of the 1989 Rules or corresponding rules framed by the State Governments and the Administration of the Union Territories shall, within a period of one month from today, remove the multi-toned horns. The officers authorised to enforce the provisions of the 1988 Act and the rules framed thereunder by the Central Government, the State Governments and the Administration of Union Territories shall also ensure that multi- toned horns are removed from all the vehicles except those specified in rule 119(3) of the 1989 Rules or corresponding rules framed by the State Governments and the Administration of Union Territories.
7. The Chief Secretaries of all the States and the Administrators of Union Territories shall cause a notice published in the newspapers having wide circulation in their respective States and the Union Territories incorporating the directions contained in this order.

The State Governments and the Administration of the Union Territories shall either amend the existing rules or frame appropriate rules for imposing deterrent penalty on the violators of the rules containing prohibition against the use of red lights and multi-toned horns or similar devices.

[hemanth.anand]

This is the scanned copy of the handout that Indiranagar police station have given for internal circulation in our company



Good to see that atleast some things are moving in a good direction in our country.

[getsurya]

Great initiative! Like all other policies, we have this too now. However, execution is a different ball game altogether.

[anachronix]

What about the Skoda/VW trumpet horns, there was already a report from Bangalore about a VW car that was fined for using illegal horn. I am sceptical about how this court ruling is going to be fairly enforced.

[alpha1]

Blabbermouth. That's all the supreme court is.
Who is going to enforce this? The traffic police.

Ever seen a traffic police catching hold of buses/trucks (for horn, lane switching, pollution) or govt vehicle (for red beacon/siren/causing traffic impediments)?

What traffic police can do is act against soft targets like common public.
But then the common public neither indulges in red beacons not indulges in siren.

Yes they do indulge in loud horns - but how will the traffic police catch the offender unless he is standing right besides the vehicle while the horn is blaring?


ALSO when will our blabbermouth Supreme court come out with law against pedestrian jaywalking, cattle on the road and actually make the traffic police enforce the rule (in the same breath, what about vehicles esp 2 wheelers changing lanes with utmost daredevilry)?

[NPX]

NGT orders a fine of Rs 5,000 on using pressure horns and removing silencers from vehicles in Delhi.

http://m.economictimes.com/news/poli...w/53301329.cms