Editor, Goemkarponn
AERIAL VIEW
Well, idea prima facie sounds good as most metropolitan cities in India, like Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad etc., now have the facilities of “Hire A Driver” in case the people feel they are too drunk.
But in Goa, Godinho plans that instead of “Hire a driver”, and the onus lies on the bar owners as they would have to arrange for taxis to drop customers home.
Now, the bar owner’s responsibility is not only to drop him home but also to see that the customer’s vehicle remains safe throughout the night; for this, he would need adequate parking space. Right?
Now the question arises who will pay for the taxis? Of Course, the customer. But in the inebriated State, would the customer be able to do that?
SURAJ NANDREKAR
Editor, Goemkarponn
Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho, who is known to make some “non-sensical” statements at times, on Monday announced that the State government would enact a law which would make it mandatory for bar owners to drop the customers home by taxi if they are drunk.
But the question remains is the idea of hiring a taxi implementable?
Most Goans today use their own vehicles. Needless to say, this is simply because the taxi-rides cost a bomb, and it is more economical for people to have their own vehicle rather than taxis.
Well, idea prima facie sounds good as most metropolitan cities in India, like Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad etc., now have the facilities of “Hire A Driver” in case the people feel they are too drunk.
But in Goa, Godinho plans that instead of “Hire a driver”, and the onus lies on the bar owners as they would have to arrange for taxis to drop customers home.
Now, the bar owner’s responsibility is not only to drop him home but also to see that the customer’s vehicle remains safe throughout the night; for this, he would need adequate parking space. Right?
Now the question arises who will pay for the taxis? Of Course, the customer. But in the inebriated State, would the customer be able to do that?
It would be better for the bar owners to have their own taxis as they will get at least half a dozen customers at night, which would further add to their revenue, and recovery would be faster as they would add the same to their restaurant bill. Isn’t it?
This law is fine when it comes to drunk men. But Mauvin must come clear what about women?
This is one of a growing number of instances involving drunk women, who may pose a danger to themselves and others, wherein policemen will also be confused about the law governing the arrest of women.
What if a woman is drunk, and the Bar owner arranges a taxi and some untoward incident happens with her. Who would be responsible? Mauvin Godinho?
As it is, there are several cases of rapes and murders of tourists in Goa, and this law would only add to the numbers.
So how can this tricky situation be handled? Being drunk, the women cannot be allowed to drive and also cannot be allowed to go alone in a taxi with a stranger driver.
Secondly, we will also have to see the benchmark for qualifying to be called drunk – one peg, two pegs, three pegs, half bottle?
Instead, it would be better for police to increase their vigilance at night and nab or arrest drunk drivers.
Under the Motor Vehicles Act, a person convicted of drunken driving can be given a jail term of up to six months. Causing death while driving inebriated can attract a charge of culpable homicide that can entail imprisonment of up to 10 years.
However, Mauvin seems to have other plans, as we all know.
Goans have a trust deficit regarding Mauvin Godinho because he goes back on his words after making announcements.
He asked the taxi operators to install speed Governors; he won’t get app-based taxis, and they did, and again he started threatening them to install digital meters. Even after the taxi operators did that, he now says he would re-open the Goa Miles counter at Dabolim airport, which was closed before the elections.
So Godinho is known to go back on his words many times.
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