Cops put the brakes on JCBs

KOCHI: A JCB on the road is not something that you could miss. But unlike most vehicles, nobody notices its number plate.When the vehicle inspectors of the Motor Vehicles Department started noticing this on Thursday they found a ‘gold mine’ of violators. One such was taken into custody by the Motor Vehicles Department from Mamala near Thiruvankulam. “We were conducting our routine checking and the JCB caught out attention. Since it was running without a number plate we intercepted the vehicle,” said Motor Vehicle Inspector M V I Rakesh. “The vehicle has been running without a registration number for about a month and it was operating inside a factory in Ambalamukal,” he said.“The driver was not ready to reveal the identity and whereabouts of the owner. However, he insisted on informing his owner about the seizure of the vehicle. He was eager to contact the owner so that the owner can  contact the higher authorities and get the vehicle released,” Rakesh said. The JCB owner has been asked to submit the documents within seven days, he said.After nabbing the vehicle, the inspection team took another JCB into custody. Its driver was operating it without a driver’s licence. “We made him pay a fine of Rs 1,500,” Rakesh said. The seizures were carried out as part of the Mobile Enforcement Code under which routine inspections are carried out by vehicle inspectors in the taluks.“As per the provision, we conduct routine checking in the taluks. We stopped the JCB as it was running at a high speed. When made a thorough check and found that the driver did not have any documents,” Rakesh said.