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What is the Fine for Driving a Two-Wheeler without Wearing a Helmet?
Penalty for Driving without a Helmet
Does anyone of you who is reading this article leave the main gate of your home open in the night? No, right? You don’t risk your security for anything. In the same way, you don’t want to put your life in danger when riding on the road. Driving without a helmet is like risking your life. Across all states in India, wearing a helmet is mandatory. It applies not only to the driver but also to the pillion riders.
Section 129 of the Motor Vehicle Act also defines that the helmet should have a thickness of 20-25 mm with superior quality foam. The helmet should also have an ISI mark and follow the Bureau of Standards.
Is it illegal to drive a two-wheeler without a helmet?
Yes, it is illegal to drive a two-wheeler without a helmet.
What is the fine for driving a two-wheeler without wearing a helmet?
If you happen to commit this mistake of driving without a helmet, you will be immediately charged with a ₹1,000 fine. Not only this, the officials of the Motor Vehicle Department can disqualify your driving license for three months.
Before the amendment under the Motor Vehicle Act, a fine of only ₹100 was charged for not wearing a helmet. According to the amendments made to the Motor Vehicles Act and traffic fines, here are the fines charged in some of the important states of India for not wearing a helmet.
| State | Penalty |
|---|---|
| Delhi | ₹1,000 and/or licence disqualification for about three months |
| Karnataka | ₹1,000 and/or licence disqualification for about three months |
| Maharashtra | ₹1,000 and/or licence disqualification for about three months |
| Punjab | ₹1,000 and/or licence disqualification for about three months |
| Andhra Pradesh | ₹1,000 and/or licence disqualification for about three months |
| Uttar Pradesh | ₹1,000 |
| Telengana | ₹200 |
What is the process once you are caught for driving without a helmet?
If the traffic police catch you driving without a helmet this is how they will deal with you:
- Stop your vehicle and ask you to pull over on the side.
- They may seize your keys until their procedure is over.
- The officer will ask for the vehicle documents and check whether they are valid or not. They will also establish that you are not committing an offence other than driving without wearing a license.
- After the verification, they will issue you a challan for not wearing a helmet. It will be issued in your name indicating the amount of fine you will have to pay as per the MV Act, 2019. Unlike the old times, a traffic policeman can issue you an e-challan as well.
- As soon as you receive the challan, you can choose to pay the fine amount of Rs.1000/- either online or offline.
Offline Process to Pay the Fine:
If you wish to complete this process offline, here are a few steps to do so.
Step 1: Visit the nearest traffic police station in your area. Go to the enquiry counter.
Step 2: Ask for the amount you are liable to pay for the impending fine. Assess all the details.
Step 3: Clear the dues, take the receipt and you are free.
Online Process to Pay the Fine
You can also complete this process online, which is the easier process. Here are the steps to do so.
Step 1: Visit the website of your concerned State’s Transport Department. Scroll down on the Home page.
Step 2: You will find a section there for the payment of e-challan or traffic violation payment. Click on that link once you locate it.
Step 3: Enter your vehicle number or challan number. You may then enter the captcha code.
Step 4: This screen will display the details of your penalty, and the amount you need to pay. Make the payment using your debit or credit card.
After the payment, you will then receive a message for confirmation of receipt. Get yourself free and in future abide by the law.
Tips to avoid getting fined for driving without helmet
Here are ways to avoid fines for driving without a helmet:
- Always make sure that you wear a helmet(according to the specifications). It is for your safety and not others.
- Keep an extra helmet for the pillion rider.
- Buy a helmet lock so that it will always be on your two-wheeler and there will be fewer chances of you to pay a fine. Or keep it in the in-built storage boxes of your two-wheeler.