The fine for driving without helmets, for example, will go up to Rs 1,000 from the Rs 100 now.
Violators of traffic rules will have to pay very heavy penalties, probably from September 1, as the Motor Vehicle Rules (Amendment) Bill passed by Parliament has received the assent of the President of India.
The State government is gearing up to implement the harsher punishments and penalties, as the amended law aims at reducing, if not stopping, traffic accidents, which have become one of the major causes for the increased number of deaths in the country.
The current penalty amounts and the revised ones that will be coming to force from September 1, for different violations, are as follows:
Not using helmet - Rs 100 now, Rs 1000 hereon plus three months disqualification of use of vehicle
Drunken driving - Rs 2,000 now, Rs 10,000 hereon
Not tying the seat belt - Rs 100 to Rs 1000
Driving without driving license - Rs 500 to Rs 5,000
Rash driving - Rs 400 to Rs 1,000-2,000
Driving dangerously - Rs 1,000 to Rs 5,000
Not giving way to emergency vehicles - Rs 10,000
Vehicle not having insurance - Rs 1,000 to 2,000
Vehicle not having permit - Rs 5,000 to Rs 10,000
For goods transport vehicles resorting to overloading, the penalty has been increased to Rs 20,000. And for vehicles overloaded with passengers, the penalty will be Rs 1,000 per person above the prescribed limit.