Hyderabad: A few hours of carefree entertainment and then the careless act of driving after getting drunk is all that took one person in Cyberabad to end up behind bars for 26 days.

With the traffic police tightening the noose on those driving after drinking above the permissible amount of alcohol, the number of days for which one can be imprisoned if caught for drunk driving is getting bigger. The latest drive in the Cyberabad Commissionerate saw one person being sentenced to 26 days, while one each were sent to jail for 18 days and 15 days respectively, even as two went to prison for 14 days.

The drive that saw 45 persons caught by the Cyberabad Traffic Police on charges of drunk driving, being sent to jail for durations ranging from one day to 26 days, was from September 6 to 11. These were from among 592 persons caught for drunk driving and driving without a license. The number of cases disposed for driving without the licence was 148. From these, five persons were sentenced to imprisonment for periods ranging from one to five days.

The court, which imposed a total fine of Rs 13.93 lakh on violators of the drunk driving rule, also slapped a total fine of Rs 3.48 lakh on those without a driving licence.

According to the police, 39 persons caught at Shamshabad were imprisoned for drunk driving, followed by Rajendranagar with six persons. Though persons were caught in Alwal and Jeedimetla as well, the court let them off after imposing penalties.

The driving licenses of all the persons caught drunk were being sent to the Regional Transport Authority concerned for suspension of the license, officials said.

“Drunk driving and driving by unauthorised persons have been major causes of road crashes and fatalities on roads in Cyberabad. Hence, we have been taking stringent legal action against such violators,” said an official from Cyberabad Traffic Wing, adding that in view of the increasing number of road accidents due to drunk driving, the Traffic Police was acting strictly against drunk drivers.

The Cyberabad Traffic Police said persons who cause fatal accidents, particularly under the influence of alcohol were being booked for culpable homicide not amounting to murder as per section 304 part II of the Indian Penal Code which would result in the imprisonment of up to 10 years. Those who knowingly allow or accompany drunk drivers were also being prosecuted on charges of abetting the crime.