AI Camera Clicks Pics Of Bike Rally: Fines Everyone Who Was Not Wearing A Helmet
Many Indian cities now use tech-driven ways to enforce traffic and lane laws. Relying on AI cameras is a common approach. These identify violations like overspeeding, riding without helmets, and not wearing seatbelts, and automatically issue challans to the offenders. These need minimal human intervention to function and are thus difficult to tamper with or fool. A recent incident from Kerala is proof of the same. During the Lok Sabha elections last year, an AI camera in Kottarakkara identified and fined several two-wheeler riders who took part in a bike rally organised by KSU, for not wearing helmets.
What Really Happened?
Kerala Students' Union (or KSU) is the students’ wing of the Indian National Congress (INC) party. During the previous Lok Sabha elections, supporters of KSU organised a bike rally from Sasthamcotta to Pathanapuram to support the UDF candidate Kodikunnil Suresh. 150 two-wheelers reportedly took place in this. These included both motorcycles and scooters.
All these vehicles were ridden by KSU supporters. Many had pillions as well. Several riders and pillions, however, did not have their helmets on. The AI camera placed near Puthoormukku, clicked pictures of the procession and violating vehicles, capturing their number plate details. These images have now surfaced online and show the violators with Blue ribbons on their heads instead of helmets. A fine of Rs 1000 was imposed on each of these two-wheelers.
The owners, however, came to know about these fines months after they were issued. One of the KSU supporters who took part in the rally, recently tried to sell off his motorcycle. As part of the same, he did a search on the MVD’s website to find out if there were any impending challans on it. He then found out that the AI camera had captured and fined all violating riders during the rally.
Soon, the news was shared online, sparking discussions among netizens. Interestingly, the UDF candidate whom these people campaigned for, won the election and is now a member of the Lok Sabha. A report by Manorama Online also mentions that participants of this rally were also fined for jumping traffic signals.
AI Cameras Back In Action In Kerala!
AI camera-based enforcement started in Kerala in June 2023. These cameras were aimed at identifying and penalising vehicles that committed various violations. In the months that followed, however, fine collection using these faltered briefly due to some financial constraints. Earlier this year, these were fixed, and enforcement was made stronger. Reports reveal that these cameras have recorded over Rs 98 lakh violations within a span of 18 months.
As part of the ‘safe Kerala’ project, 726 AI cameras have been installed at different locations. The total cost of this initiative was 230 crores. Fines worth Rs 600 crores have reportedly been issued so far. Of this, 400 crores have already been collected. Riding without helmets continues to be the most common violations in the state, followed by not wearing seat belts and triple riding on two-wheelers.
Talking to Indian Express about AI camera-based enforcement, Transport Commissioner Nagaraju Chakilam said: "There is definitely a significant positive impact. Now, people are more conscious about the fact that they are under surveillance and try to follow rules more diligently,"
The Union Transport Ministry had previously directed that challans issued by electronic violation detection systems should reach the owner within 15 days. In the case of Kerala’s AI cameras, there have been instances in which challans took too long to reach owners, due to a suspected glitch in the AI-camera system. In 2023, the Kerala High Court even criticised the MVD for the same.