Maharashtra Traffic Fine

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.

Further, this increase in the number of fatalities put Maharashtra in the second place of the list of states with the highest number of road accident deaths. (1)

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.

Following is a look at the amendments proposed under this Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019, with instances of how it has affected the state.

What does the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019 Propose?

In the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, implemented from 1st September 2019, there were several provisions put forth regarding the safety of pedestrians, non-motorised vehicles, and children during a commute, recalling of cars, etc.

However, the most significant of changes were brought in regard to the fines imposed for traffic violations. The existing penalties were revised and increased by almost 200%, increasing the liability of vehicle owners and drivers by quite a margin.

The increase in the quantum of fines was so substantial that many states in the country announced it as unfeasible and denied following them through. 

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.

Following is a table that illustrates the new RTO fines in Maharashtra, along with the old penalties, as applicable before September 2019.

As of December 2019, this is the list of fines that has been imposed by the Maharashtra government, which is at par with the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019.

Now, according to figures rolled out by the Maharashtra Police, there are only about 26.7 lakh challans, out of total 74.7 lakh challans issued in the first 8 months of 2019 that were settled by motorists in Maharashtra. This accounts for a massive amount of ₹168 Crore in fines that remains yet to be paid. (2)

With the implementation of the new fines, this figure of total unpaid fines is only set to increase!

That is why, if you are a vehicle owner in the state, it is best to adhere to the set traffic rules or risk being penalised with heavy fines, which frankly, is not very convenient, right?