Kerala govt may take a call on traffic fines Monday

Kerala govt may take a call on traffic fines Monday

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Transport Minister A K Saseendran will preside over a key meeting on Monday to take a call on reducing steep traffic fines. Though there are legal constraints for states to slash rates, the meeting will discuss possibilities including halving them as has been announced by the Gujarat government. A final decision can be expected only after consultation with the Kerala chief minister and his party- led Left Democratic Front which is in power.

The Kerala government will seek legal measures to reach a decision after considering a central order. There is pressure on the state government to reduce the fines even though states cannot lower fines set by the centre unilaterally. Meanwhile, motorists who violate traffic rules will have to pay the new fines set.

"New fines will not be imposed until the centre’s final order and existing rates will continue for now. The ministry is unaware of Union transport minister’s call for a chief ministers’ meet," Saseendran stated.

The Motor Vehicle Department has suggested a lower fine for a first-time offence and the higher fine for repeat offence. This however requires a proper government notification. However, the new Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act of the central government provide no scope for such a measure. Furthermore, such abatement might create auditing issues and possibility of legal challenges.

However, as per the new Act there are about 10 offences where the state can decide a rate within the prescribed limits. For example, states can choose an amount between Rs 5,000 and Rs 10,000 for certain traffic violations. Tomorrow’s meet may consider executing this option, but the state has to seek legal advice over others.

Traffic commissioner will present a report at the meeting.

As the state government decided to give relief to motorists during Onam festival season there were few vehicle checks in the last few days. The Motor Vehicle Department has had to turn a blind eye to violations during this period. Neither fines were imposed, nor cases were registered.

It is seen that there are not enough hands to process cases too as per the new norms.

As reported earlier, the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highway too is having a rethink on the hefty fines under the new Motor Vehicles Act. After Gujarat, several other BJP-ruled states such as Karnataka and Goa have decided to reduce the rates, forcing the ministry to seek legal assistance to have a relook into the penalties prescribed. Earlier Union Minister Nitin Gadkari had said that the states were well within their rights to reduce the traffic fines.

Several BJP-ruled states have now decided to reduce the new traffic fines amid reports of public anger. Among non-BJP-ruled states, Odisha won't implement the rules for three months. Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, and Congress-ruled states like Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Punjab governments had already said that they won't enforce the new rates. Rajasthan government is planning to run an awareness campaign and then impose a higher fine for some violations.

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