MUMBAI, April 29 -- The fivefold increase in fines for drunk driving has clearly not deterred city motorists if the numbers are anything to go by. The number of people apprehended while driving under the influence has quadrupled, prompting the Mumbai traffic police to start registering FIRs against drunk drivers, and taking steps to cancel their driving licenses and impound their vehicles. In 2023, the Mumbai traffic police nabbed 2,562 drunk drivers. Despite the fine for drunk driving going up from Rs.2,000 to Rs.10,000 for the first offence and Rs.15,000 for subsequent offences, in 2024 the number of inebriated drivers caught by the Mumbai traffic police rose to 9,462, marking an almost fourfold increase over the previous year. "We have observed that the penalty amount is not enough to deter drunk drivers, and therefore we have now started registering FIRs under the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Motor Vehicles Act and cancelling driving licenses as well," said Anil Kumbhare, joint commissioner of police, traffic. Kumbhare said that 1,356 drivers were apprehended for drunk driving during the nakabandis across the city in the first three months of 2024. As the number was high, the traffic police intensified its focus on drunk driving, but in the first three months this year, the number increased to 2,264, prompting them to start registering FIRs. In a special drive in the first two weeks of April, the traffic police registered 103 FIRs against drunk drivers across the city. They also publicised their names on the traffic police social media account and referred their licenses to the Road Transport Department for cancellation. "Now, we will start impounding the vehicles of those caught driving under the influence of alcohol," said another traffic police officer. Earlier, offenders who had alcohol exceeding 30 mg per 100 ml of blood, measured through a breath analysis test, were required to pay a deposit of Rs 2,000. A Local Act Case would be registered at the nearest police station, and the person would be directed to appear in court, which then decided on the punishment-mostly a fine. Now the FIR is registered against the offender under Section 125 of the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita, which pertains to the commission of an act that endangers the life or personal safety of others. "If the reckless act causes simple hurt, the punishment includes imprisonment of up to three months or a fine of up to Rs.2,500 or both," said the second police officer. "If the act results in serious injury, the penalties will be more severe. Additionally, Section 185 of the Motor Vehicles Act will also be slapped, leading to the seizure of the offender's driving license and confiscation of the vehicle." Experts said that the action by the police would act as a deterrent only if it was continuous....