“Motor Transport Amendment Bill 2019” It was approved in Parliament on 1 August. Under the Act, traffic violators will be fined nearly 10 times the previous fine.
Last month, Gadkari had said that the process of making a driving license would be computerized and no one, be it a minister or a member of parliament, would get a license without passing the online tests. And now Gadkari’s administration has tightened the vehicle laws even more.
Strict fines will help reduce accidents and ensure proper compliance of traffic rules by motorists, Delhi Transport Minister Gehlot said on Saturday. “It will also have a major impact on improving road safety,” he said.
Penal provisions for common traffic violations such as not wearing a helmet, not wearing a seat belt, and driving under the influence of alcohol have been made more stringent under the new Vehicle Act.
Strict penal provisions
- Driving without a seatbelt can now attract a fine of Rs 1000, up from Rs 100 earlier. It was Rs 1,000-5,000 before it was Rs 1,000 for using mobile while driving.
- The fine for driving under the influence of alcohol has been increased to Rs 10,000 from Rs 2,000 to Rs 5,000 earlier.
- Failure to give way to emergency vehicles such as ambulances or fire brigade will now attract a fine of Rs 10,000.
- Under the new law, driving without a license will attract a fine of Rs 5,000, up from Rs 500 earlier.
- The fine for driving while disqualified has been increased from Rs 500 earlier to Rs 10,000.
- Overspeeding will now attract a fine of Rs.1000 to Rs.2000. What was earlier Rs 400 will now be Rs 1000 for small vehicles, and Rs 2000 for medium passenger vehicles.
- A fine of Rs 2000 will be levied for driving without vehicle insurance.
- Drivers without helmet Rs. 1,000 and their license can be suspended for three months.
- A fine of Rs.20,000 will be levied if the vehicle is overloaded.
- In case of any road offense by minor drivers, parents will be held guilty and fined up to Rs. 25,000 and three years imprisonment and cancellation of registration.
- In the hit and run case, a compensation of Rs 5 lakh has been given to the family of the deceased and Rs 2.50 lakh to the injured and three years of imprisonment.
You should also check our article “Getting Driving License Now Made Easy”.