A Bengaluru AI traffic camera issued a Rs 500 challan after allegedly mistaking a guitar strapped to a rider’s back for a pillion passenger not wearing a helmet, prompting the Bengaluru Traffic Police to ask the vehicle owner to seek rectification.
The incident took place on September 15 on the Outer Ring Road stretch between Hebbal and Tin Factory, according to a report by PTI published by Deccan Chronicle. Souvik Dutta was riding his wife’s two-wheeler alone while wearing a helmet and carrying a guitar slung over his back.
The challan was issued in the name of Dutta’s wife, with the violation recorded as “pillion riding without helmet”. The penalty was Rs 500. Dutta later posted an image of the traffic camera capture on X, identifying the challan notice number as 86202541 and tagging the Bengaluru Traffic Police.
In his September 26 post, Dutta said the camera had treated the guitar as a pillion rider. He questioned the accuracy of the AI-based traffic violation detection system and requested that the challan be revoked.
The Bengaluru Traffic Police responded to the post by asking Dutta to send the details to automationpubbcp@ksp.gov.in for violation rectification. The response indicates that the disputed challan would need to be reviewed through the department’s designated process.
The case highlights the direct role automated camera systems now play in issuing traffic notices to vehicle owners. It also shows how a mistaken identification can shift the burden of correction to citizens, who must identify the error and approach the traffic authorities with supporting evidence.
The available account does not state whether the challan has been cancelled or whether the traffic police have completed their review. The next step identified by the department is submission of the case details to its automation-related email address for rectification.
