IT Correspondent
Mumbai, Jan 17:
After the notification amending Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019, was issued by the Maharashtra Government, the state traffic police have issued e challans comprising a fine of Rs 104 crore to nearly 14 lakh vehicle owners, involved in violation of traffic norms.
The notification came into effect from December one and the police have issued challans afte implementation of drive began from December 11,2021 onwards. Out of Rs 104 crore, the offenders have paid the fine of Rs 11.67 crore and remaining amount is yet to be recovered.
Under one state, one challan system, the E challans have been sent to 14,27,515 vehicle owners, Of these 2,15,840 vehicle owners have responded and 12,11,675 vehicle owners are yet to pay the fine. Out of the total fine of Rs.104,69,13,100, the state has been able to recover only Rs 11,67,57,400.
Among violators, the number of those riding without helmets is maximum.Those who have been served with e challans include: 2,78,473 two wheeler riders without helmet, 1,67,489 riders over speeding, 1,46,685- dangerous/haphazard parking, 1,24,795- Breaking signal, 1,14,095- driving without license.
The Maharashtra Government has notified the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019, increasing compounding fines for different traffic offences. The notification has come into effect from December 1.
As per new rules the fine of Rs 200 has been increased up to Rs 500. Those riding without helmet as well as pillar riders without helmet are being fined Rs 1000 per offence. Besides their license can be suspended for three months.
For violating parking rules, not having Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate, not being able to furnish documents, having dark film or advertisements on the glass, jumping signal and not wearing seat belt, one will have to pay Rs 500 as fine now for the first offence. For the second and consecutive offenses, one will have to pay Rs 1,500. Earlier, one had to pay Rs 200 for each offense. Moreover, the fine for driving the vehicle without license has been increased from Rs 500 to Rs 5,000.
According to a new provision, a fine of Rs 1 lakh will have to be paid by the dealer, importer or manufacturer of vehicles who offers to sell or delivers vehicles that violate the rules under the Act. This includes whoever sells or allows sell of any part of the vehicle that has been notified as its critical safety component.
As per the notification issued by the government, a biker’s driving license will be disqualified for three months if both the rider and pillion are caught without helmet and riding in excess of the seating capacity. The driving licence will also be disqualified if any person drives or is driven in a vehicle in a public place in contravention to standards prescribed in relation to road safety, control of noise and air pollution. The fine for this has also increased.
The fine for racing on a public place has been increased from Rs 2,000 to Rs 5,000 for the first offence and Rs 10,000 for every second and consecutive offense. For allowing an unauthorised person to drive a vehicle, the owner will be fined Rs 5,000. This was earlier Rs 500. The fine for driving without insurance has been increased from Rs 300 to Rs 2,000 for the first offence and Rs 4,000 for the second and consecutive offences.
“The current amendment has been done only in compoundable offences. The increase in fines will also help improve road safety for motorists and pedestrians. The increase and changes in the fines will discourage motorists from violating traffic rules and also help reduce road accidents and fatalities, “ an official said. The Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill, 2019 was introduced in Lok Sabha on July 15, 2019. While it was passed and became an Act, Maharashtra did not implement it earlier.
