Tyre Shop Owners Protest Against Police Crackdown On Aftermarket Alloy Wheels
In India, it is illegal to buy and fit aftermarket alloy wheels on any car. As a result of this, the traffic police authorities across all the states stop car owners with aftermarket alloy wheels and hand them huge fines. Recently, in order to stop this from happening in Chandigarh, a number of tyre and alloy wheel shop owners gathered and started a protest against the "harassment" by traffic police, which fines any vehicle coming from other states to Chandigarh with aftermarket alloy wheels.
Chandigarh aftermarket alloy wheel shop owners protest against police
This video of shop owners protesting against Chandigarh traffic police’s harassment by fining other state cars has been shared on Instagram by Kissan Tyre 45 Chandigarh on their page. The short video starts off with a man named Manoj Singh, owner of a tyre shop in Sector 45, Chandigarh, complaining about the recent crackdown on aftermarket tyres and alloy wheels by Chandigarh traffic police.
He mentions that he is the vice president of the tyre shop union, and he, along with the president and owners of more than 100 tyre shops, wants to request police authorities to become less strict about aftermarket alloy wheels. The shop owner explains that currently their businesses are suffering as people from other states and Chandigarh itself are not buying alloy wheels.
The main reason for this is that the Chandigarh traffic police stop each and every car at signals that have aftermarket alloy wheels. He added that there are 8–10 police officers at all intersections, and they are levying heavy fines on the owners of these cars.
What is the result of these fines?
During the interview, the vice president of the tyre shop association highlights that heavy fines are now discouraging car owners from buying aftermarket alloy wheels and tyres. As a result, their businesses are getting hit with losses. He added that this situation is locking Chandigarh from all sides as people from other states are not entering the union territory.
He added that if the traffic police authorities become slightly less strict, it will not hurt their businesses. Also, the vice president added that the revenue of the state will increase as more people from other cities and states will visit and spend more money with other local businesses as well.
Has any solution been offered?
In the clip, Singh shows an affidavit that he was holding. He stated that they have formally written their request and have sent it to all the high-ranking police officials to help them with their issue. He added that they have been promised by the Deputy Superintendent of Police that he has already spoken with the Senior Superintendent of Traffic Police.
He added that from now on there will be no fines on vehicles with aftermarket alloy wheels and tyres. Following this, a senior police officer highlights that if anyone is getting harassed by the authorities and they have followed all the traffic norms, then they can record a video and send it to 112, following which they will not have to pay any fine.
Currently, in India, aftermarket alloy wheels are only allowed on vehicles if they do not exceed the width of the vehicle and do not alter the OEM structure and safety norms. In most states, generally, having an aftermarket alloy wheel set does not cause issues. However, if caught by the authorities, they can levy heavy fines.