LAHORE: The City Traffic Police (CTP) have impounded hundreds of cars and motorcycles during the ongoing crackdown on `juvenile riders` but public complaints about misbehaviour by wardens and demand for bribe at police stations are rife.

Although the campaign entered into sixth day on Tuesday, the CTP teams don`t see significant decline in violations. There are reports of exchange of harsh words between the law enforcers and vehicle users on roads.The CTP authorities claim that the crackdown, which is first of its kind since the launch of trafficwardens service in 2006, is meant to discourage juvenile driving, reduce accidents and bind parents to disallow their children to drive without licences and basic skills.

Citizens have complained that the police have launched the campaign without properly publicising it. They also say the police are not releasing their motorcycles even after 72-hour deadline and rather demanding bribe.Statistics show that 9,163 motorcycles and cars (which are up to five percent of the total confiscations) being driven by teenagers have been impounded for 72 hours since May 8 afternoonand two pickets with each morning and evening shifts in 34 sectors have been set up to check drivers under 18.

The CTP claim they have witnessed downward trend in motorcycle accidents on city roads. The last six days have seen 70pc reduction in accidents, they say. As part of the campaign, they say, wardens daily distribute pamphlets and the authorities are advertising it through flexes and electronic media.

Officials say the CTP are releasing motorbikes of those youngsters who show their CNICs on the spotor bring those from home and pay fines for not having driving licences. They say leniency is shown to juvenile drivers up to the extent that the police are neither arresting them nor are they registering cases.

After receiving complaints that the police delay releasing impounded motorcycles at the police stations and check posts, the CTP authorities have directed the wardens to impound motorcycles at traffic sectors and lock those with a big chain.

According to a field official the motorcycles impounded at designated places of the CTP are being re-leased after the owners are submitting paid fine slips which are also stamped by the circle DSP offices.

He says officials of police stations are not only disturbing traffic wardens but also citizens by expecting gratification and ignoring fine slips.

He says most teenaged motorcyclists either travel alone or with families and misbehave with wardens.

Another field official says a good number of offenders come up with the pretext that they have to look after the transportation and domestic needs of their families and deserve leniency.-FAISALALIGHUMMAN