Over 800 booked in Mumbai for drunken driving on New Year's eve

Mumbai: Over 800 motorists were booked in Mumbai for drunken driving on the New Year’s eve and early Tuesday, police said. According to a traffic police official, as many as 840 revellers were fined and detained for driving under the influence of alcohol while ringing in the New Year. “Those charged face a punishment of up to six months in jail or Rs.2,000 as penalty or both,” he said. [caption id=“attachment_575525” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Reuters[/caption] “Even as the celebrations went off peacefully, this year saw nearly 100 more revellers being fined for drunken driving. Last year we had fined 749 revellers,” the official said. A total of 14,200 cases of drunken driving were registered in 2012, he said. According to police officials, the celebrations were low key and peaceful. No deaths due to road accidents were reported. “Barring an incident of alleged molestation of a married woman, there were no other untoward incidents either during the celebrations,” another official said. Many Mumbaikars decided to ring in the New Year in a peaceful manner and kept the celebrations low key against the backdrop of the death of the Delhi gang-rape victim. A large number of people celebrated the first day of the New Year without alcohol as Tuesday was according to Hindu calendar Angarika Chaturthi, a day considered auspicious for devotees of Lord Ganesh. IANS