Thiruvananthapuram: Bowing to huge public demand, the Kerala government has decided to reduce fine for certain traffic offences.
Fine for helmet-less two-wheeler riding and seat belt-less four-wheeler travelling has been reduced to half. This means offenders have to pay only Rs 500 as against the existing fine of Rs 1,000.
Fine for mobile phone usage while driving has been slashed to 2,000 from the existing Rs 10,000.
However, there is no respite for drunk driving as the government decided not to slash it. This means offenders have to shell out Rs 10,000.
The fine for underage driving will also remain at Rs 10,000.
The fine has been brought down to Rs 250 from Rs 500 for violations for which no specific penalty has been prescribed. If the offence is repeated, the act has prescribed a repeater's fine of Rs 1500. This has bee brought down to Rs 500.
On the other hand, the government increased the fine for driving unregistered vehicles and vehicles sans fitness certificate to Rs 3,000. The existing fine is Rs 2,000.
The penalties under the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019 came into effect on September 1. The central government's decision had invited public wrath.
Here's the the revised fine (existing fine in brackets)
Driving without seat belt/helmet – Rs 500 (Rs 1,000)
False information and not following orders - Rs 1,000 (Rs 2,000)
Working without conductor's licence - Rs 1,000 (Rs 10,000)
Overspeeding: for light motor vehicles - Rs 1,500 (Rs 1,000 - Rs 5,000); for medium heavy vehicle - Rs 3,000 (Rs 2,000 - Rs 4,000)
Use of mobile phone while drving - Rs 2,000 (Rs 1,000 - Rs 5,000). Repeater's fine - Rs 5,000 (Rs 10,000)
Competitive driving - Rs 5,000 (Rs 10,000)
Sound and air pollution - Rs 2,000 (Rs 10,000)
Driving without permit - Rs 3,000 (Rs 2,000 to Rs 5,000). Repeater's fine - Rs 7,500 (Rs 5,000 - Rs 10,000)
Overload - Rs 1,500 for every excess tonne subject to a maximum of Rs 10,000 (Rs 2,000 per excess tonne and a maximum of Rs 20,000.)
If overloaded vehicles refuse to stop - Rs 20,000 (Rs 40,000)
Excess capacity - Rs 100 for every extra passenger (Rs 200)
Failure to allow free passage to emergency vehicles - Rs 5,000 (Rs 10,000)
No insurance - Rs 1,000 (Rs 2,000). Repeater's fine - Rs 2,000 (Rs 4,000)
