Most travellers to Bengaluru International Airport are aware of the 80 km/h (50 mph) speed limit on the highway and the two “Police Interceptor” vehicles to catch speeders and video capture them in the act.
These anonymous photographs shows a police Jeep speeding, but being let off, while a private citizen who was also speeding was hauled up at the same time.
It appears that some speeders are more equal than others.
Police Jeep registration KA-02-G-991 travelling at over 100km/h on the highway approaching Air Force Station Yelahanka. Observe the lack of an English number plate as specified by the RTO.
The Jeep approaches the “Interceptor” at over 100km/h. In the adjacent lane a Maruti Baleno is also speeding.
The traffic constable hauls up the Maruti Baleno for speeding making the car pull over. The police Jeep brakes as the constable moves to haul it in as well.
The inspector manning the “interceptor” realises that a senior officer is in the Jeep, salutes and lets the Jeep proceed.
The police Jeep speeds away with a puff of exhaust smoke while the private citizen is hauled in.
I have tremendous respect for the traffic police, and wish the rest of Bangaloreans also do. But when the police indulge in such blatant “selective enforcement” it lowers their prestige, their respect, and most important, their moral authority.
These photographs by someone (not me) who was travelling from the airport to the city.