Rs 2.12 crore fine collected in 2018

Kasaragod: In the backdrop of the ban against smoking cigarettes and beedis in public areas in Kerala state, a total of Rs 2.12 crore has been collected in fines for smoking in public places last year.

In comparison to 2017, the number of cases and the fines collected in connection to smoking in public places has fallen. The cases booked and the fines collected as per the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act or COTPA with the aim to control smoking of cigarettes and beedies in public places.

In 2018, Rs 2,12,77,150 has been collected in fines from 1,10,028 persons. In 2017, Rs 3,33,89,900 had been collected from 1,62,606 individuals. If the fines collected in the two years are to be compared, there is fall by Rs 1.26 crore in the collection of fines in 2018.

In 2016, Rs 4,17,00,800 was collected in fines from 2,01,085 persons. These are the cases registered by the Railway Police at all the 19 police districts in Kerala. It is an offence to smoke cigarettes and beedis in public areas. Encouraging smoking of cigarettes and beedis is also an offence. According to COTPA, it is an offence to promote smoking through advertisements and to provide tobacco products to those beneath the age of 18. Earlier, fine had to be paid to the court for smoking in public places. Currently, the fines are being collected by the police.

The highest amount of fine has been collected within Ernakulum police station limits in 2018. Rs 25.80 lakh has been collected from 14,893 individuals. Thiruvananthapuram is in the second position with Rs 21.56 lakh collected in fines from 11,017 persons. Rs 21.10 lakh has been collected in fines from 10,551 people in Kannur. The highest amount of fines was collected in Kannur in 2016 and 2017. Thiruvananthapuram and Kollam have been included in the list of the least amount of fine collection this time.