Beginning 8 a.m. on Saturday, personnel of the City police and traffic wardens headed by all deputy superintendents of police and Station House Officers (SHOs), will be deputed at 33 points across the City, carrying out a "joint traffic checking programme". The aim of the checking drive is to both book defaulters for various offences and create awareness, official sources added.

At a meeting of police officials held at the Sector 29 Traffic Police Lines late this evening, R.P. Singh, the UT IGP, issued guidelines and directions with regard to the checking programme. "The staff have been directed to be courteous and polite. Since some laws are being implemented for the first time, the endeavour is to educate road-users," R.P. Singh said. Also, Singh issued orders this morning directing all officers of the City police to ensure that unauthorised red-lights and films from glass panes of their vehicles be removed by the evening.

The Chief Traffic Warden, Amar Manchanda, said the thrust will however, be on visible violations.

All two-wheeler users, including pillion-riders and women with the exception of turbaned Sikhs, will be challaned for not wearing safety helmets.

Besides, all cars and four-wheelers using films on glass-panes, except those authorised by the UT IGP, will be challaned from tomorrow. So far, the IG office has received requests from about 10 persons seeking relaxation for the said rule, sources say. "Relaxation can be granted on security or medical grounds. Their cases are under consideration," Singh said.

All escort or pilot vehicles of VIPs have been directed to adhere to traffic regulations and not jump traffic lights, failing which, besides challans, departmental action too would be initiated against the driver and the official concerned. Vehicles which fail to meet the standards of emission even on repeat tests would be taken off roads. For each traffic violation, a driver's challan would be punched once. In effect, five challans would mean that cancellation of the licence.

The Chandigarh SSP to file a statement of the number of vehicles challaned of initial default and subsequent default.