Image used for representational purpose only

BENGALURU: Using mobile phone while riding/driving will cost you Rs 1000 from Friday with the state government issuing a notification increasing the penalties for various traffic violations.

Until now, motorists were coughing up Rs 100 if caught using phone while driving or riding.

Similarly, the penalty for parking in non-designated places, overspeeding and riding/driving vehicles without insurance will also cost Rs 1000.

The notification, signed by M Sathyavathi, under secretary to the government ( Transport department ), says that the penalties have been revised under the purview of Motor Vehicles Act of 1988.

The notification has revised penalties for other offenses as well. Driving motor vehicles without registration will attract Rs 5000 for the first offence and Rs 10,000 for the second and subsequent offences. Driving vehicles without fitness certificate will attract Rs 2,000 fine the first time and Rs 5,000 for the second and subsequent offences.

Towing charges extra

Police who were penalising Rs 100 for no-parking offence will charge Rs 1000, i.e, excluding towing charges. For two-wheelers, the penalty including the towing charges hereafter would be Rs 1,650 and for four-wheelers it would be between Rs 2000.

Motorists in Bengaluru, however, were furious over the hike in no-parking fine as they saw it as a tool to generate revenue. "There are no spaces for parking in Bengaluru and on the top of it, the traffic police have not put no-parking boards at most places but blatantly collect fine when vehicles are parked at such places,” Ramesh Kumar, who rides a scooter to commute, said.

However, some others, including traffic policemen, welcomed the increased penalties, hoping that they would be an effective deterrent.

“Many in Bengaluru violate traffic rules with impunity as they know the fines are not that high. But now, we hope to see some positive changes in motorists’ behaviour,” said a traffic cop.

Bengaluru traffic police in order to create awareness among riders/drivers about the revised fines will be launching a special drive from Friday, DCP (east) K V Jagadeesh said.

