MUMBAI: A record 8,000 rogue auto drivers were booked for offences, including refusals, in three months in the city; nearly 5,000 of them did not have badges to ply. Transport activists said this was serious as it concerned the safety and security of commuters, especially women, students and senior citizens.A drive over three months by a dozen RTO squads led to the booking of over 1,000 drivers for refusals. TOI had first reported about the transport department’s decision to permanently cancel licences of drivers found guilty of refusals. So far, 750 licences have been sent for cancellation, of which 700 have been scrapped and 50 are under process, sources said. These drivers will be off roads permanently, said a senior transport commissioner’s office official.“It’s not a healthy sign as refusals usually peak during the monsoon,” said passenger rights activist, G R Vora. He said drivers plying autos without badges and proper uniforms should be dealt with sternly. “These days, you often come across such drivers, especially late in the evening and at night, when police/RTO vigil is minimum. With more drivers in civil dress, even anti-social elements could be driving your auto, which is dangerous,” he said.Taking cognisance of repeated complaints, Mumbai Police on Wednesday responded to a tweet, saying, “If any rickshaw or taxi rejects fare, you can tag us (@MumbaiPolice) along with photo of that vehicle and action against that vehicle will be taken accordingly”. Traffic police have deployed personnel close to railways stations as refusals by autos peak during the monsoon. “Commuters with complaints can approach a traffic cop nearby,” said a traffic inspector. Traffic police can receive complaints on their website, while RTO offers an email and a toll-free helpline, 1800-22-0110.The menace of illegal share autos, with four-five commuters, is on the rise in places like Andheri , Jogeshwari and Borivli. A Mumbai Autorickshawmen’s Union member said cartels — or auto mafia — were in Kurla , Bandra, and at Bandra Terminus, LTT and outside the airport, and many had ‘ghoda meters’ (which run fast and show inflated fares). Union leader Shashank Rao said, “Few years back, the transport commissioner’s office had assured us of a dedicated squad to weed out illegal autos and unauthorised drivers. But we are yet to get it.” He claimed that nearly 40,000 autos in Mumbai were illegal.State transport commissioner Shekhar Channe had directed city RTOs to treat commuter grievances on priority.