Nitin Gadkari has a SIMPLE solution for those worried over hefty traffic fines

Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, has a simple message for those who are running over steep traffic fines - ‘follow rules’. Addressing annual SIAM conference, Gadkari said that the point of heavy fines is to make people follow the rules. “The government does not desire to raise the limits of the fine. The issue is that a time should come that no one gets penalised and everyone follows the rules,” Gadkari was quoted as saying. Ever since the implementation of new Motor Vehicle Act, several people have complained about traffic police levying heavy fines. From an auto driver getting a challan of Rs 47,000 to a Gurugram scooty owner complaining over Rs 23,000 fine, people are angry over such steep penalties.

The new Motor Vehicle Act came into force on September 1st. On day 1, Delhi Traffic Police issued nearly 3,900 challans to traffic rule violators. The Parliament in July passed the Motor Vehicle (Amendment) Bill, 2019 which seeks to tighten road traffic regulations such as the issuance of driving licence and imposed stricter penalties for violations in an attempt to improve road safety.

The Delhi government will hold consultations with stakeholders, including traffic police, before issuing compounding notification with regard to implementation of the Motor Vehicle Amendment Act, Transport minister Kailash Gahlot said.

“Since heavy penalties have been prescribed under the Act after a gap of many years, the compounding notification will be issued with serious consultation with traffic police and other stake holders,” Gahlot said in a statement.

On the other hand, the penalty for over-speeding will be between Rs 1,000 and Rs 2,000 for the light motor vehicles, while medium passenger or goods vehicles will have to pay between Rs 2,000 and Rs 4,000, respectively with impounding of driving license for a second or subsequent offence. 

In the case of drink and drive, the penalty has been increased to imprisonment up to 6 months and/or fine up to Rs 10,000 for the first offence and imprisonment up to 2 years and/or fine of Rs 15,000 for the second offence. 

For acquiring a learners license, the applicants can apply to any licensing authority in the state. The licensing authority will be allowed to issue driving licenses for adapted vehicles. The minimum educational qualification to drive a transport vehicle has also been removed.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Parliament in July passed the Motor Vehicle (Amendment) Bill, 2019.
• 63 clauses of new Motor Vehicles Act, 2019 have come into effect.
• 1.5 lakh people are killed in road accidents every year in India.