Cabinet approves amendment to Motor Vehicle Act; Here are the new penalties

Drinking and driving will attract a steep fine of Rs 10,000 instead of Rs 2,000 which was in the old provision.

Fine for drinking and driving to go to Rs 10,000 from Rs 2,000 earlier. Photo: Pixabay

The Cabinet on Wednesday approved the Motor Vehicle (Amendment) Bill 2016. The amendment which aims to improve the road safety in the country was approved by the cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Under the new amendment there are several steep penalties that have been introduced. For instance, drinking and driving will attract a steep fine of Rs 10,000 instead of Rs 2,000 which was in the old provision.

It has increased the compensation for Hit and Run cases from Rs 25,000 to Rs 2 lakhs. It also has provision for payment of compensation upto Rs 10 lakh in road accidents fatalities.

TRENDING NOW

The fine for driving without a license has been increased to Rs 5,000 from Rs 500 earlier. While over speeding can get attract a fine of Rs 1,000 for LMV and Rs 2,000 for Medium Passenger Vehicle from Rs 400 for both earlier.

CABINET APPROVES MOTOR VEHICLE(AMENDMENT) BILL 2016, FIND OUT THE LIST OF PENALTIES pic.twitter.com/NOg9Td21MZ

— Zee Business (@ZeeBusiness) August 4, 2016

Riding without helmets could attract a stiff penalty of Rs 1,000 and disqualification for 3 months from Rs 100 earlier.

Every year 5 lakh road accidents are reported in the country in which 1.5 lakh people lose their lives. Government is committed to reduce the accidents and fatalities by 50% in five years.

To address the issue of road safety, a draft Road Transport & Safety Bill was prepared soon after NDA Government came to power. However, most of the States have expressed reservations.

To address the issue of road safety and to improve the facilitation of the citizens while dealing with transport departments, Ministry of Road Transport & Highways constituted a Group of Transport Ministers (GoM) of the States. The GoM headed by Yoonus Khan, Hon. Transport Minister of Rajasthan held three meetings. A total of 18 Transport Ministers from different political parties participated in these meetings and they have submitted three interim reports.

In the present Motor Vehicle Act, there are 223 Sections out of which the Bill aims to amend 68 sections whereas Chapters 10 has been deleted and a Chapter 11 is being replaced with new provisions to simplify third party insurance claims and settlement process.

The Bill also proposes insertion of 28 new sections. The amendments mainly focus on issues relating to improving road safety, citizens’ facilitation while dealing with the Transport Department. Strengthening rural transport, last mile connectivity and public transport, automation and computerization and enabling online services.

The Bill proposes that the State Government can specify a multiplier, not less than one and not greater than ten, to be applied to each fine under this Act and such modified fine.

The Bill proposes offences committed by Juveniles. The Guardian / owner shall be deemed to be guilty in cases of offences by the Juveniles and Juvenile to be tried under JJ Act. Registration of Motor Vehicle to be cancelled.

Proposed Amendments in Various Penalties under Motor Vehicle Amendment Bill – 2016:

Section		Old Provision / Penalty	New Proposed Provision / Minimum Penalties
177	General	Rs 100	Rs 500
New 177A	Rules of road regulation violation	Rs 100	Rs 500
178	Travel without ticket	RS 200	Rs 500
179	Disobedience of orders of authorities	Rs 500	Rs 2000
180	Unautorized use of vehicles without licence	Rs 1000	Rs 5000
181	Driving without licence	Rs 500	Rs 5000
182	Driving despite disqualification	Rs 500	Rs 10,000
182 B	Oversize vehicles	New	Rs 5000
183	Over speeding	Rs 400	Rs 1000 for LMV

			Rs 2000 for Medium passenger vehicle
184	Dangerous driving penalty	Rs 1000	Upto Rs 5000
185	Drunken driving	Rs 2000	Rs 10,000
189	Speeding / Racing	Rs 500	Rs 5,000
192 A	Vehicle without permit	upto Rs 5000	Upto Rs 10,000
193	Aggregators (violations of licencing conditions)	New	Rs 25,000 to

			Rs 1,00,000
194	Overloading	Rs 2000 and	Rs 20,000 and

		Rs 1000 per extra tonne	Rs 2000 per extra tonne
194 A	Overloading of passengers		Rs 1000 per extra passenger
194 B	Seat belt	Rs 100	Rs 1000
194 C	Overloading of two wheelers	Rs 100	Rs 2000, Disqualification for 3 months for licence
194 D	Helmets	Rs 100	Rs 1000 Disqualification for 3 months for licence
194 E	Not providing way for emergency vehicles	New	Rs 10,000
196	Driving Without Insurance	RS 1000	Rs 2000
199	Offences by Juveniles	New	Guardian / owner shall be deemed to be guilty. Rs 25,000 with 3 yrs imprisonment. For Juvenile to be tried under JJ Act. Registration of Motor Vehicle to be cancelled
206	Power of Officers to impound documents		Suspension of driving licenses u/s 183, 184, 185, 189, 190, 194C, 194D,194E
210 B	Offences committed by enforcing authorities		Twice the penalty under the relevant section

TAGS: