Body cams for traffic cops have a storage problem

The body-worn camera, at cost of Rs 1 lakh, has 32 GB storage capacity while the battery lasts for eight hours of continuous shoot. It also has switch on and off facility. However, since these cameras can save only up to four hours of footage, traffic police are not using it throughout the day. Moreover, there is no system in place to save the footage and for now it is being deleted at the end of the day to make space for the next day. 

Despite the shortcoming of these cameras, traffic police inspectors say that this is one of the novel initiatives to prevent police-public confrontation and get a video proof of actual conversation between traffic police and motorists. “The moment any motorist sees the camera, he becomes alert and talks to us with respect. For us, it’s a constant reminder that we should treat even violators in a fair manner and fine as per the offence,” said Abraham, traffic inspector in Koyambedu, one of the four officials provided with the cameras. 

Though traffic police personnel also say that sub-inspectors would need such cameras more than the inspectors, as the former would be on the road most of the time.   

Meanwhile, motorists too are happy with the initiative but want more cameras to be distributed. “Traffic police with these cameras that they are not rude. But to make it more effective, all traffic police should be provided with cameras. It should be made part of their uniform,” said R Arulselvam, a software engineer, who travels to work on bike daily.  

Additional Commissioner (Traffic) A Arun had earlier said that all 200 traffic enforcing officers in the city will get the cameras in a phased manner and the order had already been placed. A Deputy Commissioner (traffic) confirmed to DT Next that the department has procured new set of cameras which would soon be distributed. 

It may be recalled that following the incidents of traffic police either being attacked or accused of being rude with motorists, city police distributed bodyworn cameras on a trial basis to traffic inspectors at Marina, Teynampet, Koyambedu and Flower Bazaar.