Police Can't Stop You Randomly For Document Checking: Commissioner Releases New Rules
Written By: Ajeesh Kuttan Published: October 27, 2026 at 03:58 PM
Usually, we have seen cops stop vehicles on the road and ask for documents for verification. We have also seen multiple cases where this behaviour causes inconvenience to the general public. It looks like the Pune Traffic Police have now realised this and decided to introduce a new set of rules for traffic cops in the city. The Additional Commissioner of Police has now released new guidelines instructing cops on duty not to stop vehicles unnecessarily on the road and making fines more transparent.
Additional Commissioner of Police Manoj Patil recently released these guidelines for traffic cops in the city. As per the new guidelines, Pune Traffic Police officers are prohibited from randomly stopping motorists just to inspect vehicle documents or driving licences. Officers can only take action or ask motorists to stop their vehicles in the event of a visible traffic violation that falls under a specific, approved list of traffic offences.
The new enforcement model introduced by Additional Commissioner of Police Manoj Patil is designed to shift the focus of the police force from administrative checking to active traffic management.
Under the new system, every officer authorised to issue a challan is assigned an e-challan machine and is allowed to issue fines for only 11 specific traffic violations. This new system is being implemented in a phased manner. As part of the first phase, 100 e-challan machines have been provided to officers. Only violations observed on the spot and included in the approved list can be recorded.
The commissioner also mentioned that inspectors remain responsible for taking action in cases involving serious traffic violations. Based on the new guidelines, the 11 violations for which traffic police officials in Pune can now issue a challan include:
- Wrong-side driving
- Riding triple-seat
- Driving in a no-entry zone or one-way street
- Jumping a traffic signal
- Riding without a helmet
- Driving without a seatbelt
- Using tinted glass or black film
- Using fancy or unauthorised number plates
- Dangerous or rash driving
- Obstructive or illegal parking
- Using a mobile phone while driving.
This initiative would mean that cops can directly issue a challan on the spot if they come across a traffic rule violation by any motorist. They do not necessarily have to ask the motorist to pull over, potentially causing traffic congestion on the road. In many cases, motorists who spot cops try to flee the scene and ride dangerously, which often becomes a cause of accidents.
This often involves cops jumping in front of vehicles or standing in the middle of the road to stop them for inspection. This not only causes inconvenience but also puts the officer's life in danger while issuing a challan.
With this new system in place, officers can simply click a picture of the vehicle using the e-challan machine and issue a challan against its registration number without having to stop it. This could also reduce the chances of members of the public getting into arguments with officers on duty.