On July 31, Parliament had passed the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill, 2019 that had provisions for stricter and heavier penalties for violations in an attempt to improve road safety.

New Delhi

05 September 2019 19:37 IST

The legislation provides for stricter punishment for various traffic related offences as well as higher penalties.

Post the tightening of regulations for violators of traffic laws, just two states - Haryana and Odisha - have seen collection of a whopping ₹1.41 crore through challans in just four days, officials said on Thursday.

On July 31, Parliament had passed the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill, 2019 that had provisions for stricter and heavier penalties for violations in an attempt to improve road safety.

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The Bill got President’s assent on August 9 and is applicable pan India from September 1.

“As per information from Odisha Motor Vehicles Department, a total of 4,080 challans have been issued for violations of traffic laws with total collection of ₹88.90 lakh,” a Road Transport and Highways official said. In addition 46 vehicles were seized there.

In Haryana, the official said, 343 challans were issued for violations with collection of ₹52.32 lakh.

In Delhi 3,900 challans were issued on the very first day of the implementation of the new Act, as per reports.

India accounts for 5 lakh road accidents annually, one of the largest in the world. Out of the 5 lakh accidents around 3 lakh people suffer grievous injury, while as many as 1.5 lakh succumb to death.

Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari said the new Act will result in minimising accidents and saving precious lives as this will instill fear and respect for law among violators.

“States are in line with centre in implementing these sections of The Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019 in letter and spirit,” the official said.

The legislation provides for stricter punishment for various traffic related offences as well as higher penalties, including a compensation of ₹5 lakh for death and ₹2.5 lakh for grievous injury in a motor vehicle accident case.

The Act provides for a penalty of ₹10,000 fine for not giving way to emergency vehicles and ₹10,000 for driving despite disqualification.

Penalty for dangerous driving has been increased to ₹5,000 from ₹1,000, while drunken driving under the new law attracts a fine of ₹10,000.

Penalties for over-speeding range from ₹1,000- ₹2,000.

Driving without insurance is punishable with ₹2,000 fine, while driving without helmets will attract ₹1,000 penalty and 3-month suspension of licence.

Also, the guardian/owner will be deemed guilty in case of road offence by juveniles, while registration of the vehicle will be cancelled.

Traffic violations now attract a penalty of ₹500 in place of ₹100 earlier, while disobedience of orders of authorities will attract a minimum penalty of ₹2,000 in place of ₹500 earlier.

Cab-aggregators violating licensing conditions will be charged a sum of up to ₹1 lakh, while overloading of vehicles would attract a penalty of ₹20,000.

Penalty for unauthorised use of vehicles without licence has been fixed at ₹5,000 while those driving without licence will have to shell out the same amount and those found driving despite disqualification would be fined ₹10,000.

The penalties are based on the recommendations of transport ministers from 18 states, which were vetted by a standing committee of Parliament.

Meanwhile another official said the the States/UTs are working out modalities for notification in their respective States/UTs regarding compounding under section 85 of the Amendment Act (Section 200 of the Principal Act).

“The states are in the process of issuing notification for compounding of offences under the Motor Vehicles Act (Amendment) Act, 2019. ...Chief Minister or Minister’s approval is required,” the official said.