<p>Police stations across the City have been directed to keep a strict vigil against violations of the Cigarette and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade, Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, 2003.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Police Commissioner Raghavendra H Auradkar has sent a circular to all police stations on May 13, asking them to include COTPA violations into beat book which keeps tabs on other crimes.<br /><br />Dr Vishal Rao, a member of the Institute of Public Health, who approached the police commissioner, told Deccan Herald that the move was essential for better implementation of COTPA. <br /><br />Strict vigil<br /><br />Vishal said that there was a government order even earlier as well. However, there is a need to put a system in place to keep strict vigil on violation of the law. Bangalore would be the first place to take such a decision. “When we approached him (Auradkar), he found it relevant,” Vishal Rao said.<br /><br />Vishal also emphasised that though there were several laws to bring down smoking and use of tobacco products, ground-level work was essential. <br /><br />“Let’s take for example an education institution. If the police keep a track of violations in their beat book, it will be easy for them to catch the culprits,” he said. Penalty collected<br /><br />A total fine of Rs 3,85,450 has been collected in the City in the months of January, February and March. Maximum cases were registered under the Section 4 of COTPA Act that prohibits smoking in public places. While 786 cases were registered in January, 887 in February and 612 were registered in March. <br /><br />Two cases were registered for the violation of COTPA Act Section 6(b) which mandates prohibition of sale of tobacco products within 100 yards of the educational institutions.</p>
<p>Police stations across the City have been directed to keep a strict vigil against violations of the Cigarette and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade, Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, 2003.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Police Commissioner Raghavendra H Auradkar has sent a circular to all police stations on May 13, asking them to include COTPA violations into beat book which keeps tabs on other crimes.<br /><br />Dr Vishal Rao, a member of the Institute of Public Health, who approached the police commissioner, told Deccan Herald that the move was essential for better implementation of COTPA. <br /><br />Strict vigil<br /><br />Vishal said that there was a government order even earlier as well. However, there is a need to put a system in place to keep strict vigil on violation of the law. Bangalore would be the first place to take such a decision. “When we approached him (Auradkar), he found it relevant,” Vishal Rao said.<br /><br />Vishal also emphasised that though there were several laws to bring down smoking and use of tobacco products, ground-level work was essential. <br /><br />“Let’s take for example an education institution. If the police keep a track of violations in their beat book, it will be easy for them to catch the culprits,” he said. Penalty collected<br /><br />A total fine of Rs 3,85,450 has been collected in the City in the months of January, February and March. Maximum cases were registered under the Section 4 of COTPA Act that prohibits smoking in public places. While 786 cases were registered in January, 887 in February and 612 were registered in March. <br /><br />Two cases were registered for the violation of COTPA Act Section 6(b) which mandates prohibition of sale of tobacco products within 100 yards of the educational institutions.</p>
