I have often seen threads about arrogant cops not doing their duties well or pulling up people and fining them heavily for the offences committed by us and being very rude and arrogant in conversations. Most often than not, they have been called names and what not.
But lets not get there. This thread is to keep an account on all those times when a traffic cop has been kindhearted to let you go. Its just to know for a fact that while some are corrupt, some are kindhearted too. There exists two sides to this coin, most of us having seen only the one side. That being the dark side.
Yesterday, I had to visit SJP. Road on some business work. After enquiring very clearly with the shop keeper who insisted that I could park my car in the parking opposite to his shop I did. 15 minutes later I came down to get back home and I saw the traffic inspector fining a few people right next to my car. I started my car and was about to go, when he called out "Gaadi nilsbittu barappa illi dayavittu" which means stop the car and come outside pls. And I did, parked the car back and went upto him.
He said " do you know that this parking is only for tempos?". I said "No sir, I was not aware of that. I had asked the shop keeper who said I could park and there were no hassles. I am sorry, I wasn't aware that this was a parking for only tempos". He had run out of chalans in the book, so he asked me to catch his bike while he took another book out of the activa's glove compartment.
He then asked me to show me my license. I said one minute, went to my car and opened the ash tray. Yes, thats where I always keep my Credit Card, College ID & my driver's license. Saw that neither of them were there. It struck me then that for the last couple of days I had been driving a M800 and I had left behind my stuff in that car. Since dad was already at Whitefield there is not much I could do. Went back to the cop and told him the truth. I told him that I have left my license in the other car. Dad has gone out, he will be coming this side in about an hour. If he was going to be around I could show him the license. I offered to give him the keys to the car until then if he wished.
He then showed me the challan book which said
1. Driving without DL - Rs. 300/-
2. Parking in a no parking zone - Rs. 100/-
I told him I am really sorry for breaking the rules. Infact, I always try to follow the rules to the best of my knowledge. I stop for a functioning signal even at 2am, never drive without seatbelts. This one time it slipped my mind. And to my surprise he let me go
. Yes, he said he was letting me off with a warning and asked me not to repeat it next time.
I got back into the car in disbelief. Started the car, moved couple of feet, stopped it. Got out, went upto him and asked him his name. Told him he is a good man, thanked him and zoomed off. His name is Hanumntha Gowda. Kudos to such officers, who went way out of hand to understand my problem.
I know many will say I deserved being fined, I know I do. But at times fining offenders might not do much, but such incidents will sure make me remember to carry my license at all times. Some people don't need to learn it the hard way. This is one such instance.
So have you had any such experiences with these cops?