Some very drastic changes were made to the Motor Vehicles Act under the amendment that came in 2019. The traffic laws were made more stringent and the penalties were raised ten-fold. Now that, traffic police in some areas are beginning to fine people over not wearing rear seatbelts after the Cyrus Mistry incident, let's take a look at some traffic law violation challans and it goes without saying that you should refrain from violating these ever (not just because of the penalties involved but the sole reason behind their existence in the first place).
Before we get into it, several cases of astounding traffic violation challans have surfaced that go even beyond this list of challans. For example, a Porsche owner in January 2020 was slapped with a fine of Rs 27.68 lakh 'for not having required documents.'
Prior to the Porsche, this record rested with a vehicle registered in Rajasthan which was fined Rs 1,41,700 in Delhi by Rohini Circle Police 'for violating traffic rules.'
A very common error many make is heading out in a car or on a two-wheeler without a valid Driving Licence, the challan for which is Rs 5,000. It previously used to be Rs 500. A similar challan would come your way if found driving an unauthorised vehicle without a valid licence plate at Rs 5,000.
Those were a couple of Rs 5,000 challans. If the vehicle in question has been disqualified for reasons like expired RC or failed fitness tests, the challan for driving such a vehicle is Rs 10,000. (This previously used to be Rs 500).
Rash or dangerous driving can invite a challan of - First time: Imprisonment of 6 months to 1 year and/or Rs 1,000 to Rs 5,000 penalty. Second time: Imprisonment of up to 2 years and/or up to Rs 10,000 penalty.
While caught driving under the influence the first time would attract a challan of Rs 10,000, the second time, it'll increase to Rs 15,000, plus jail time of six months to two years.
Overloading passengers in a vehicle invites a fine of Rs 1,000 per extra passenger, however, overloading a vehicle beyond its payload limit will land a challan of Rs 20,000 (Rs 2,000 per extra tonne).
Not giving way to an emergency vehicle can land you a fine of Rs 10,000 and/or six-month imprisonment. Offences committed by juveniles attract jail time of Rs 25,000 and imprisonment of three years (vehicle owner or guardian is deemed guilty).
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari in September 2019 also said that contractors will be charged up to Rs 1 lakh fine for constructing poor roads and neglecting their proper maintenance under Motor Vehicle Act, 2019.
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