Assam: Hailakandi District Administration Enforces New Motor Vehicles Act

Hailakandi, October 10, 2019:

The District Transport Office (DTO) from September 26, along with Hailakandi Police has been launching a district-wide awareness drive about the amended Motor Vehicles Act 2019 that came into force on September 23.

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District Transport Officer, Syed Rafiqul Mannan said the new motor vehicle act has stricter penalties and punishment for traffic violations. Fines will be imposed for those not carrying documents and the pollution certificate and not using the helmet, said Mannan, adding that the transport department would be very strict in enforcing the new motor vehicle act.

Mannan pointed out that even the Supreme Court has ruled that road traffic offences can be prosecuted under the motor vehicles act as well as the Indian Penal Code emphasizing on the gravity of rash and negligent driving causing fatalities on roads.

"Stricter penalty laws are applicable in case of dangerous driving. First-time offenders will face imprisonment of six months to one year and/or fine of between Rs 1,000 and Rs 5,000. For the second offence, the offender will be imprisoned for up to 2 years and/or will have to pay a fine of up to Rs 10,000," he said.

In case of drunken driving, imprisonment up to 6 months and/or a fine of up to Rs 10,000 in case of a first-time offense. For the second offense, there will be a prison term of up to 2 years and/or a fine of Rs 15,000 will be levied.

Driving an uninsured vehicle can actually land you in jail. According to the new motor vehicle act, you can be penalized an amount of Rs 2,000 and/or imprisoned for up to 3 months for the first time you are caught driving an uninsured vehicle. For the second offense, a fine of Rs 4,000 and/or imprisonment of up to 3 months.

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You will have to pay a penalty of Rs 5,000 in case you are caught driving without licence.

The penalty in these cases has been enhanced by 10 times. Previously, the penalty for driving without licence was Rs 500.

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A penalty in case of driving despite being disqualified will cost you Rs 10,000 from Rs 500 previously.

Penalty for over-speeding has been enhanced from up to Rs 400 to Rs 1,000. In case of a light motor vehicle, it will be Rs 2,000. For medium passenger or goods vehicles and subsequent offence, the penalty can be between Rs 2,000 and Rs 4,000.

If someone is caught racing and speeding, he/she can be imprisoned for up to one month and/or a fine up to Rs 500 will be levied if it is a first-time offense. In case of a second offense, though imprisonment will remain the same, the penalty can go up to Rs 10,000.

Traveling without a ticket in state transport buses will cost you more. The penalty amount has been increased from up to Rs 200 to Rs 500.

A penalty of Rs 2,000 can also be levied on you in case you disobey government orders and refuse to share the information requested with the authorities. Prior to this, the amount of penalty in such a case was Rs 500.

Unauthorized use of vehicles without a licence will cost you Rs 5,000, up from the previous penalty amount of Rs 1,000.

A penalty in case of driving when mentally or physically unfit to drive has been increased to Rs 1,000 from Rs 200 for a first-time offense. For second and subsequent offenses, the penal amount has been increased from up to Rs 500 to Rs 2,000.

Offenses relating to accidents can lead to imprisonment of up to 6 months and/or fine up to Rs 5,000 for the first-time offence. For the second offense, imprisonment of up to 1 year and/or a fine up to Rs 10,000 will be levied.

New penalties have been prescribed for carrying of excess passengers, failure to use safety belt and violation of rules in seating of children, violation of safety measures for motorcycle drivers and pillion riders, refusal to stop and submit vehicle for weighing, use of phones in silent zones and failure to allow free passage to emergency vehicles.

Causing obstruction in the free flow of traffic can lead to a penalty of Rs 500 up from Rs 50 earlier.

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