Capt. E.D. Gompertz, who served in the Madras Moffusil Police, can be considered as the first Superintendent of Police in charge City traffic. Though, Gompertz was asked to look after the Cantonment area, he used to man the traffic of the entire district.

On October 21, 1861, the Police Act received the assent of the Governor-General. But, only on December 18, 1866, this Act was extended to Bangalore Town.

With the advent of the Railway in the State, the movement of people from one place to another increased rapidly. Bearing this in mind, the Mysore Police Regulation V of 1908 was introduced. The then Maharaja of Mysore in his notification (JJ: 1892 Legis 11-04 dated January 5, 1909), made it a law. This new law was made applicable to the City and thereafter Traffic Control in City was in accordance with the various provisions envisaged in the Police Regulation V of 1908.

The control of traffic then was confined only along the roads. Instructions in Kannada such as "Gadi Edakke Hodeyire" were written in Kannada for the benefit of bullock carts.

Next came the use of lights by carts and tongas while travelling during the nights. The Police Regulation specified that transport vehicles should carry lights half an hour after sunset and one hour before sunrise. Hurricane lanterns were in use then.

The next phase was the "Cycle age". The cyclists too had to conform to the use of lights during the night time. Special cycle lamps attachable to bicycles were available and were made use of.

Thereafter came the "age of automobiles" and motor car, motor-cycles and buses appeared on the roads. The ownership of a vehicle and the use of automobile transport by the public were considered a luxury.

This necessitated the enactment of regulations and formation of rules for the operation of motor vehicles on public roads, registration of vehicles, fixation of taxes, issue of permits, licensing of drivers, nominating registration officers and authorities to enforce the provisions of the regulation and rules etc.

The work of regulation of motor vehicles, which was attended to in the motor branch of the office of the Inspector General of Police initially, was taken over by the Commissioner for Transport in later years.  Likewise, the power to issue driving licences by the district and assistant superintendents of police was transferred to the regional transport officers.