Hyderabad, May 06: Hyderabad Traffic Police have issued a warning to car owners who use sirens in an unauthorized manner to alert fellow motorists of traffic clearance, causing annoyance to other commuters. The act of using sirens without authorization is a blatant violation of the Law of Motor Vehicles.
According to Rule 119 of the Central Motor Vehicle Rules, 1989, no motor vehicle shall be fitted with any multi-toned horn or any other sound-producing device that gives an unduly harsh, shrill, loud, or alarming noise. Exceptions to this rule include vehicles used for ambulance or fire fighting, salvage purposes, police officers, operators of construction equipment vehicles, officers of the Motor Vehicles Department in the course of their duties, or on construction equipment vehicles with sound signals approved by the registering authority.
Hyderabad Traffic Police has served 134 notices to car decor shops and mechanics who are fitting illegal sirens and multi-toned horns to vehicles to earn money. Owners of such shops and mechanics have been warned of legal action if they continue to violate the notice. The police will also convene a meeting with car decor shop owners in the coming days.
In the last 12 days, Hyderabad Traffic Police has conducted special drives and removed illegally fitted sirens, booking 1557 cases, and appraised the rule position to the owners and drivers of such vehicles. The police have warned that the Hon’ble High Courts have instructed them to take stringent action against violators of laws related to horns and to confiscate sirens/multi-toned horns found in violation of Rule 119 of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989.
Hyderabad Traffic Police urge car owners not to fit/use sirens unauthorizedly and inform car decor owners that fitting such sirens/multi-toned horns is a violation of Section 52 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. They further request drivers of authorized vehicles fitted with sirens to use them sparingly and only in emergencies.
Hyderabad Traffic Police will continue its special drive until all illegally fitted sirens are removed, and drivers are requested to cooperate with the police during vehicle checks. G. Sudheer Babu, IPS, Addl. Commissioner of Police, Traffic, Hyderabad, emphasized that the Motor Vehicle law is sacrosanct and cannot be violated by individuals.
