Punjab Police launched a five-day special statewide drive against the illegal use of hooters, sirens, and flashers on private vehicles beginning June 2, 2026, the Chief Minister's Office of Punjab announced on Sunday, June 7, 2026. The intensive operation resulted in the checking of over 29,000 vehicles across the state.

Context

The CMO Punjab post, shared in both Punjabi and English, confirmed the scale of the crackdown: 'ਟ੍ਰੈਫਿਕ ਨਿਯਮਾਂ ਦੀ ਉਲੰਘਣਾ ਕਰਨ ਵਾਲਿਆਂ 'ਤੇ ਕਰੜਾ ਸ਼ਿਕੰਜਾ' ('a tight crackdown on traffic rule violators'). The drive specifically targeted private vehicle owners who illegally mount emergency signalling equipment — hooters, sirens, and flashers — typically reserved for authorised government and emergency vehicles.

The operation commenced on June 2, 2026 and ran for five consecutive days, covering all districts of Punjab. Over 29,000 vehicles were checked during this period, making it one of the largest targeted traffic enforcement drives in the state in recent memory.

Policy Backdrop

The crackdown draws legal authority from the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019, which significantly raised penalties for traffic violations, including the unauthorised use of emergency signalling equipment on private vehicles. Central motor vehicle rules explicitly prohibit the use of multi-toned horns, sirens, and flashing lights on non-emergency private vehicles.

Indian courts, including the Supreme Court, have periodically issued directions to state governments to enforce these provisions strictly, citing concerns around noise pollution, road safety, and the misuse of perceived authority by private vehicle owners. Punjab's drive fits into a broader national pattern of states conducting periodic enforcement campaigns to implement these mandates at the ground level.

Stakeholders and Impact

Private vehicle owners across Punjab are the primary stakeholders affected by this enforcement action. The illegal use of hooters and flashers has long been associated with individuals seeking to project authority or bypass traffic, creating hazards for other road users and eroding public trust in legitimate emergency signalling.

Punjab Police's traffic enforcement units conducted checks across the state, with the sheer volume — more than 29,000 vehicles — indicating a coordinated, multi-district operation. Citizens and road safety advocates have broadly welcomed such drives as a necessary corrective to a widely observed but under-enforced violation.

What's Next

The conclusion of the five-day drive raises questions about follow-through: how many challans were issued, whether repeat offenders face escalated action, and whether the state government plans to institutionalise such enforcement as a recurring exercise. The Chief Minister's Office of Punjab has not yet announced the specific number of challans or penalties levied during the campaign.

Sustained enforcement — rather than periodic drives — is widely regarded by road safety experts as the more effective deterrent. The Punjab government's willingness to publicise this operation through the CMO's official channel signals political backing for continued action on traffic discipline across the state.