Thane Traffic Department to implement new rules for towing vehicles in the district

New rules have been introduced for towing vehicles in Thane, and this decision is said to have brought great relief for the citizens. The decision was taken with an aim to resolve disputes which often occurred between vehicle owners and towing operators, whereby damages were being caused to vehicles, and such cases were being reported often. Addressing the same, officials have drafted new rules which will soon be implemented in the district.

Reports state that the Thane Traffic department has taken charge of the same, and with an aim to improve the process, directives will be given to the towing van operators to strictly follow the rules, failing which strict action would be taken by the department. Officials will also check the process regularly to ensure vehicles are handled in a safe manner and disputes are avoided. 

The traffic branch of Thane police has also decided to bring discipline in the towing operation whereby the Commissioner of Police has ordered the operators to make official announcements and record the process on the entire video while picking up the vehicle.

Balasaheb Patil, Deputy Commissioner, Transport Branch, has taken a firm stand to strictly abide by all the conditions mentioned in the agreement with the towing contractor. So now the announcement will be made from the towing vehicle before picking up the vehicle. Operators currently have been skipping the process of announcements, pasting stickers, noting the contact number, and other details.

Also, a sticker of the transport branch has to be paster in place of the picked-up vehicle and the name and telephone number of the concerned transport department has to be mentioned to ensure that the vehicle owner does not have to worry about the traffic checkpoint or station, their vehicle has been taken to.

Officials have reported that operators present on the spot mark the areas with chalk, which often get erased after the vehicle. At times, the language is not familiar to the vehicle owner, eventually leading to chaos and panic regarding the whereabouts of the vehicle. 

Post the implementation of the new rule, the concerned owner of the vehicle will be given some time to pick up his vehicle by the public announcement is made. If the driver comes and moves the vehicle during that period, he will be charged only no parking fine, no towing charges, etc. However, if the driver does not arrive within that period, the vehicle will be picked up and brought to the check post.