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Nagpur: There will be no changes in the new Motor Vehicles Act, but states can decide the amount of the fines they need to impose, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari has said.

The new law, which has increased the fine amounts manifolds for various traffic offences, was passed by Parliament in July this year, and the Centre notified it on 1 September.

Traffic offences such as jumping red lights and talking on mobile phones while driving now cost motorists hefty fines — up to ten times more than what they had to pay earlier. Several states, including the BJP-ruled ones, have criticised the hike.

Speaking to ThePrint in an exclusive interview, Gadkari said there would be no change in the law, but states could fix the penalty amounts.

“The subject is in the concurrent list and there is a provision that the states can charge from Rs 500 to Rs 5,000. Some of the states are charging Rs 5,000, some of the states are charging Rs 2,000. That is under the law, it is their right to decide the fine. So, there is no dispute and (there is) no problem.”

Also read: Can steep fines & jail time under Motor Vehicles Bill be enforced and deter people?

Only 5 states have implemented new MV Act

The steep hikes in the fine amounts under the new Motor Vehicles Act had faced criticism from several states, including BJP-ruled states such as Maharashtra, Gujarat and Rajasthan.

Gujarat, in fact, has amended the fines and implemented the Act with reduced amounts.

Only five states — Gujarat, Uttarakhand, Kerala, Karnataka and Assam — have implemented the new law so far.

Some states, including Rajasthan, have proposed revised fines, which will have to be approved and notified by the state government.

“States can revise non-compoundable fines (where violators don’t have to go to court but can pay fine on the spot) under the law,” said a senior road ministry official, who did not want to be named.

Law aims to reduce accidents, not generate revenue: Gadkari

Gadkari said the new law was not aimed at generating revenue, adding the government was concerned over the number of accidents and deaths caused due to violation of traffic rules.

“This is not a programme for getting revenue for the government. Every year, we are facing 5 lakh accidents, 1.5 lakh deaths, and out of that 65 per cent belong to the age group of 18 to 35 years. And between 2 lakh and 2.5 lakh people are becoming disabled. So, this is the time to save the life of the people, and that is the reason why we are implementing it,” Gadkari said.

Also read: Motor Vehicles Act offences can also be prosecuted under IPC, says Supreme Court

The last time traffic fines were increased was in 2001.

Under the new law, talking on the mobile phone while driving invites a fine of Rs 5,000 — up from Rs 1,000. The fine for jumping red light for the first time is Rs 1,000 now. For subsequent offences, the driver’s driving licence and vehicle registration certificate will be cancelled.

The maximum fine under the new Act is of Rs 1 lakh, which is to be imposed on road developer for failure to comply with standards of road design and construction material.

(With inputs from Moushumi Das Gupta)

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