Road Transport and Highways Ministry of India has increased the penalties for traffic rule violations across the country.
NEW DELHI: Road Transport and Highways Ministry of India has increased the penalties for traffic rule violations across the country.
Post imposition of the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019, from September 1, hefty penalties by police for breaking traffic rules have hit the headlines. Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari has defended the increase in traffic penalties saying it was not for revenue generation but to save precious lives.
India accounts for over 5 lakh road accidents annually in which 1.5 lakh people die and another 3 lakh are crippled.
Under the amended Act, violations such as drunken driving attract a fine of Rs 10,000 and/or imprisonment of six months to two years. Penalty for driving without a licence was increased from "fine up to Rs 500 and/or imprisonment which may extend to three months" to "fine of Rs 5,000 and/or imprisonment which may extend to 3 months" under the amended Act. Not wearing a helmet while riding a two-wheeler can now lead to a fine of Rs 1,000 and disqualification for licences for three months.
Here is a list of important new motor vehicle laws for reference:
| Penalty | Old Amount | New Amount |
| Driving without license | Rs 500 | Rs 5,000 |
| Over-speeding | Rs 400 | Rs 1000 - Rs 2000 for light motor vehicle, Rs 2,000 - Rs 4,000 for medium passenger or goods vehicles and impounding of driving license for second/subsequent offence. |
| Drunken Driving | - | Imprisonment up to 6 months and/or fine up to Rs. 10000 for first offence and imprisonment up to 2 years and/or fine of Rs. 15000 for second offence. |
| Racing and speeding | - | Imprisonment of up to 1 month and/or fine up to Rs. 500 for first offence and imprisonment up to 1 month and/or fine up to Rs. 10000 for second offence. |
| Driving uninsured vehicle | Fine of Rs. 1000 and/or punishment up to 3 months | Rs. 2000 and/or imprisonment up to 3 months for the first offence and fine of Rs. 4000 and/or imprisonment up to 3 months for the second offence. |
| Dangerous Driving | - | Imprisonment of 6 months to 1 year and/or fine of Rs. 1000- Rs. 5000 for first offence and imprisonment up to 2 years and/or fine up to Rs. 10000 for second offence. |
| Causing obstruction to free flow of traffic | Rs 50 | Rs. 500 |
| Driving despite disqualification | Rs 500 | Rs 10,000 |
| Unauthorised use of vehicles without license | Rs 1,000 | Rs 5,000 |
| Driving when mentally or physically unfit to drive for | Rs 200 for first offense, Rs 500 for second/subsequent offense | First offence - Rs. 1000 and second/subsequent offence - Rs.2000 |
| Taking vehicle without lawful authority and seizing motor vehicle by force | Rs 500 | Rs. 5000 |
| Offences relating to accident | - | Imprisonment of up to 6 months and/or fine up to Rs. 5000 for first offence and imprisonment up to 1 year and/or fine up to Rs. 10000 for second offence. |
| Violation of road regulations | - | Rs 500 to Rs 1,000 |
| Disobedience of orders of Authority and refusal to share information | Rs 500 | Rs 2,000 |
| Traveling without Ticket | Rs 200 | Rs 500 |
| Penalty for offenses where no penalty is specifically provided | Rs 100 for first offense and Rs 300 for second/subsequent offense | Rs 500 for first time offense, Rs 1,500 for subsequent offense |
