Owning a two-seater sports car turns heads, and when such a car breaks down, it turns a lot more heads, including the traffic police. Bengaluru traffic police recently fined a BMW Z4 for obstructing traffic on a busy road and the reason for the breakdown — Z4 ran out of fuel.
Traffic authorities posted the incident on X (Twitter) saying “Fuel empty….booked for deliberate traffic obstruction”. The incident happened at Hebbal, a busy road and also a major junction that heads to the international airport.
Can the police issue a fine?
According to IPC Section 283, yes, the police can issue a fine for obstructing traffic, especially on a busy road. They can also be produced to the court, where a person can be fined up to Rs 10,000. Although the rune is not applied often, traffic authorities can enforce it if needed, and it is up to the driver of the vehicle to ensure there’s sufficient fuel when travelling through high-density zones. Authorities can also book an individual for negligence.
While breakdowns can happen to anyone and anywhere, ensuring there is sufficient fuel is solely the responsibility of the driver. Other breakdowns such as flat tyres or minor issues can also occur and that’s why carrying a tool kit and knowing how to change a spare tyre in a car is crucial. As for the BMW Z4 driver, it was a bad day.