Traffic Fines & Penalties for Different Traffic Violations in Maharashtra
All about Maharashtra RTO Fines
According to data released by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highway in November 2019, there were about 13,261 deaths resulting from road fatalities in Maharashtra in 2018. This accounted for an 8.1% increase in the total number of accidental deaths, as compared to 2017. As of 2020, over 12,000 people in Maharashtra died in road accidents and traffic discrepancies were identified as the major contributor.
According to traffic officials, this rapid increase in the number of fatalities due to road accidents could be owed, to quite an extent, to over-speeding. To curb this increasing number of accidents, not just in Maharashtra, but on a pan-India basis, the Government of India brought several amendments to the existing Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.
List of Traffic Fines in Maharashtra
In the following table, we have demonstrated the traffic fines that got reduced on 21st September 2019 and drawn a comparison with the rates which were previously brought into effect on 3rd September 2019.
Violation | Penalty |
Driving Without a Seatbelt | ₹1000 |
Carrying Excess Luggage | For the first offence: ₹500 For repeat offense: ₹1500 |
Triple Riding on Two-vehicle | ₹1000 |
Driving Without a Number Plate | For the first offense: ₹500 For repeat offense: ₹1500 |
Driving Without Helmet | ₹1000 |
Minor Driving Vehicle | ₹25000 |
Parking in No-parking Zone | For the first offense: ₹500 For repeat offense: ₹1500 |
Dangerous/Rash Driving | For the first offense: ₹5000 For repeat offense: ₹10000 |
Disobey of Traffic Signals | For first offence: ₹5000 For repeat offense: ₹10000 |
Using a Mobile Phone While Driving | For the first offense: ₹5000 For repeat offense: ₹10000 |
Driving Uninsured Vehicle | ₹2000 |
Drunk Driving | ₹10000 |
Driving Vehicle Without Registration | ₹2000 |
Over-speeding | For Light motor vehicle (LMV): ₹1000 For Medium passenger goods vehicle: ₹2000 |
Carrying Explosive/Inflammable Substances | ₹10000 |
Violation of Road Regulations | ₹1000 |
Driving When Mentally or Physically Unfit to Drive | For the first offense: ₹1000 For repeat offense: ₹2000 |
Not Giving Passage to Emergency Vehicles | ₹10000 |
Disqualified Person Driving a Vehicle | ₹10000 |
Driving Without Insurance | ₹2000 |
Racing | For the first offense: ₹5000 For repeat offense: ₹10000 |
Overloading | ₹2000 |
Driving Without a Valid Driving License | ₹5000 |
Driving a Vehicle Registered in Another State for More Than 12 Months | For the first offense: ₹500 For repeat offense: ₹1500 |
Failure to Intimate Change of the Address of Vehicle Owner | For the first offense: ₹500 For repeat offense: ₹1500 |
When were the New Traffic Fines Implemented in Maharashtra?
The state government of Maharashtra implemented the new traffic fines following the Motor Vehicles Act of 2019. After deliberations, the new changes were implemented since December, 2019 across different parts of Maharashtra.
Maharashtra was among those states that denounced the newly introduced traffic fines as unfeasible after taking cognisance of the entire matter. The state, along with several others like Gujarat, Kerala, Karnataka, etc. had subsequently put the implementation of the revised fines on hold, citing the interest of vehicle owners and drivers.
But, after putting the implementation of the fines on hold for a while, the Maharashtra traffic fines were finally revised according to the new rates put forth by the amended Act.
Have Traffic Fines Been Reduced in Maharashtra?
The new traffic fines contributed to reducing some traffic fines in Maharashtra. For instance, the penalty for driving a car without a valid driving licence has been dropped to ₹ 1,000 and ₹ 2,000 instead of ₹ 5,000 for both two-wheelers and four-wheelers. Similarly, the penalty for blocking emergency vehicles has also been reduced to ₹ 1,000 from ₹ 10,000 in the past.
However, there have also been some hikes with the new traffic fines in Maharashtra. For instance, the compounding penalty for breaking the speed limits has increased to ₹ 4,000. Moreover, the penalty for minors driving a vehicle has increased to ₹ 5,000 from only ₹ 500 in the past. Thus, there are possibilities of hike in the fines.
Important Points to Consider as a Citizen
As a citizen of Maharashtra, there are a few points you must keep in mind while driving a vehicle in Maharashtra. For instance, you should be aware of the traffic rules and signals, and thereby avoid breaking them while driving. Moreover, you must make sure that your vehicle is not causing air or sound pollution in the location.
Apart from that, you should also ensure that you are carrying all the important car-related documents, such as licence and insurance certificate. It can help you avoid facing complications or penalties from the traffic authorities.