New Traffic Fines

Traffic Fines Effective from 1st Sept-2019

Traffic fines makes everyone wary and that’s probably why they’re even introduced in the first place. Effective since the 1^st of September-2019 and with the aim of enhancing road safety, the Motor Vehicles Amendment comes with new traffic fines and violation penalties you should be cautious of, as most of these fines have been increased by a large margin!

Especially for violations such as drunk driving, not giving way to emergency vehicles like ambulances and fire engines, driving without licence, driving while speaking on the phone, and driving without a valid insurance amongst other traffic violations. Let’s take a look at all the violations and the revised fines for the same: 

Since these fines have just been introduced, currently you do have to visit the court to pay for your challan.  However, once all states are notified of all norms. With due time, some violations would need a court visit while some of them would be required to be paid on-spot. Following is a quick table to help you figure it out.

For Car Owners & Drivers

• Ensure you and the person on your front passenger seat are always wearing your seatbelt. 
  
• Ensure you’re always carrying your driver’s licence with you. If you only have a learner’s licence, ensure someone with a valid licence is seated with you in the passenger seat. 
  
• Always stay within your speed limit and don’t get too filmy, racing around in town. Leave that for the stuntmen and movies. 
  
• Always make way for emergency vehicles such as ambulances, fire engines and police cars. 
  
• Even though a soft copy can suffice, it’s always better to carry a physical copy of your car insurance in your dashboard. Additionally, always check your car policy expiry date and make sure you renew it maximum, one to two days before its expiry. You don’t want to be stuck in any tricky situations! 
  
• If you haven’t yet brought your car insurance or are yet to renew your existing car insurance policy. renew it before it expires.
  
• Never try to bribe police officers. That’s a crime in itself as per the new amendment, you can’t get away with it as there’s now a hefty fine to pay for the same! 
  
• Never drive drunk, even if you’ve consumed only a bit of alcohol. It’s better to get dropped by a friend or cab instead. 

For Two-Wheeler Owners & Riders

• Always ensure you and your pillion rider always have a helmet on.  
  
• If you only have a learner’s licence. At least make sure someone with a valid two-wheeler licence is seated behind you. 
  
• Avoid riding in the wrong lane and follow road regulations such as never go over your speed limit. Leave that for the stuntmen in the action movies. 
  
• Always make way for emergency vehicles such as ambulances, fire engines and police cars. 
  
• Even though a soft copy can suffice, it’s always better to carry a physical copy of your two-wheeler insurance. Additionally, always check your two-wheeler policy expiry date and make sure you renew it maximum, one to two days before its expiry. You don’t want to be stuck in any tricky situations! 
  
• If you haven’t bought two-wheeler insurance yet or you haven’t renewed your existing two-wheeler insurance policy, renew it before it expires.
  
• Never try to bribe police officers. That’s a crime in itself as per the new amendment, you can’t get away with it as there’s now a hefty fine to pay for the same! 
  
• Never ride drunk, even if you’ve consumed only a bit of alcohol. It’s better to get dropped by a friend or cab instead. 

Only a few states have implemented new traffic fines in their entirety. These include:

• Assam
  
• Punjab
  
• Sikkim
  
• Jharkhand
  
• Maharashtra
  
• Odisha
  
• New Delhi
  

What are the States that did not Implement New Traffic Fines?

All of the states, apart from the ones mentioned above, have not implemented these new traffic fines. States like Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and West Bengal have opposed these new rates calling them steep and harsh.

Few Chief Ministers of these states have put forth their reservations about the fact that these fines will become a financial burden on most motor vehicle owners.

What are the States that Had Implemented the New Traffic Fines but Later Revised the Same?

The following states had originally implemented the new rates but revised them later:

• Gujarat - The Gujarat Government reduced their fines on 10th September 2019, 9 days after this Act came into force. The state reduced all the fines by 25% to 90% on the grounds of being “humanitarian and compassionate”. Know more about Traffic Fines in Gujarat.
  
• Uttarakhand - The Uttarakhand Government reduced the traffic fines, following Gujarat’s footsteps. While the fine for driving with an expired license was brought down to Rs. 5,000 from Rs. 10,000, that of driving without a valid licence was reduced to Rs. 2,500 from Rs. 5,000.
  
• Karnataka - Following Gujarat and Uttarakhand, the Karnataka Government also reduced their fines on 22nd September 2019. It decreased the fines of 18 offences by 30% to 50%. For instance, penalties for driving without wearing seat belts and helmets were reduced to Rs. 500 from Rs. 1,000. Know more about Traffic Fines in Karnataka.
  
• Goa - Goa initially postponed the implementation of the new traffic fines till January 2020. The state government has decided to revise these penalty fees of some offences and reduce them if necessary after the next cabinet meet. Know more about Goa Traffic fines.
  
• Odisha - The new traffic fines have been implemented by the state of Odisha. However, the state government has relaxed the imposition of these new traffic penalties for few offences for 3 months from January 2020.
  
• Haryana - Even though the state of Haryana has implemented these amendments under the new Motor Vehicles Act, it has “slowed down” the rate at which traffic police fined violators. Instead, traffic officials are new educating the riders and drivers with these new amendments.   
  

What are the States that Implemented the Traffic Fines but later put them on Hold?

The following states have put their implementation of new traffic fines on hold:

• Telangana - The state of Telangana has not yet imposed the revised rates. The Chief Minister has asked the state’s Regional Transport Authority (RTA) to observe the outcomes of these new fines in other states and then take a course of action. It should be noted that Attorney General K. K. Venugopal mentions that states cannot reduce traffic fines. He said that the central government is within its rights to direct states for implementing the new fines.