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Delhi Traffic Fines
Learn all about Traffic Fines in Delhi
According to data released by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highway, Delhi accounted for the highest number of road fatalities in India in the last two years. Out of the total 1690 accidental deaths in 2018, more than 44% were caused due to speeding.
This alarming rate of road fatalities in the capital city itself, along with an increased number of traffic violations throughout the country, prompted the Government to make amendments to the existing Motor Vehicles’ Act, 1988.
The Motor Vehicle Act, amended in 2019, brought considerable alterations to how roads are administered in the country. Among other revisions in areas like road construction standards, insurance norms, etc., traffic fines levied for various offences were also revised.
Here, we will take a look at the revised Delhi traffic fines, and compare them with the previously existing list.
Has Delhi Implemented the New Traffic Fines?
The Parliament, in July, passed the Motor Vehicle (Amendment) Bill, which was implemented across the country subsequently.
The capital city of Delhi implemented these new traffic fines on September 1st, 2019, amidst criticism from all corners due to the hike in the fines imposed.
However, with the implementation of the fines, traffic violations in Delhi have witnessed a 66% drop in the month of September, compared to that of September, last year. (source)
With a hike in the Delhi traffic police fine rates, the number of challans issued has dropped sharply from 5,24,819 in 2018 to 1,73,921 in 2019. (source)
New Traffic Fine in Delhi from 1st Sept-2019
Following is an illustration of the traffic fines as implemented under the Motor Vehicle (Amendment) Act. 2019. We have also compared them to the old traffic rates that were applicable before:
Violation | New Penalty from 1st Sept-2019 | Old Penalty |
Driving/Riding without Licence | ₹5,000 and/or community service | ₹500 |
Driving/Riding Under the Influence of an Intoxicating Substance | ₹10,000 and/or 6 months prison | ₹15,000 and/or 2 years jail for repetitive violation. | ₹2,000 |
Overspeeding | LMV: ₹1,000- ₹2,000 MPV/HPV: ₹2,000- ₹4,000 (+ licence seizure) | ₹400 |
Driving/Riding without Insurance | ₹2,000 and/or 3-months prison, community service | ₹4,000 for subsequent offence | A fine of ₹1,000 with a punishment of up to 3 months. |
Driving without Seat Belt | ₹1,000 and/or community service | ₹100 |
Speeding and Racing | ₹5,000 and/or 3-months prison, community service | ₹10,000 for subsequent violation and up to 1 year in prison, community service | ₹500 |
Dangerous Driving/Riding and Jumping Red Light | ₹1,000- ₹5,000 and/or 6-months to 1 year in prison, licence seizure | ₹100 - ₹300 |
Violating Road Regulations | ₹500- ₹1000 | ₹100 |
Driving/Riding While on the Mobile (Handheld) | ₹5,000 | ₹1,000 |
Driving/Riding Despite Disqualification | ₹10,000, and/or community service | ₹500 |
Not Giving Way to Emergency Vehicles like Ambulances, Fire Engines, etc. | ₹10,000 and/or community service | ₹500 |
Riding without Helmet (rider and pillion rider) | ₹1000, and or licence disqualification, community service for 3-months | ₹100 |
Overloading Two-Wheelers | ₹2,000 and licence disqualification and/or 3-months of community service | ₹100 |
Juvenile Offences | ₹25,000 with 3-years prison, cancellation of registration for 1-year, juvenile ineligible for licence until 25 years of age. | - |
Overboarding Passengers | ₹200 for every extra passenger and/or community service | - |
Driving/Riding without Ticket | ₹500 | ₹200 |
Offence Committed by Enforcing Authorities Such as Offering Bribes | Twice the penalty (varies according to traffic rules violated) | - |
Unauthorized Use of Vehicles Without Licence | ₹1,000- ₹5,000 | ₹1,000 |
Refusing to share information under orders of the Traffic Authority/Disobeying orders | ₹2,000 | ₹500 |
Vehicles without Permit | ₹10,000 and/or up to 6-months prison, community service | Up to ₹5,000 |
Driving/Riding without Registration | ₹5,000 | ₹10,000 for subsequent offence | - |
Have the New Traffic Fines Been Put Under Hold in Delhi?
No, Delhi is one of the cities where new fines are being followed, unlike states like Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, etc. where new fines have not been implemented.
Even with the quantum of fines levied being too high, the state has remained undeterred at its stance of imposing them.
However, the state government has announced that for certain specific offences, the state can decide the quantum of penalty levied.
In most cases, the challans will go to the court directly.
Have Traffic Fines Been Reduced in Delhi?
With the implementation of the Motor Vehicle (Amendment) Act on 1st September 2019, the traffic challan rates in Delhi and the rest of the country were increased by almost 200%.
But, keeping the interests of motorists in mind, various states like Telangana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, etc. have deferred the implementation of this Act.
The penalties implemented on 1st September were announced to be unfeasible by many states like Kerala, Karnataka, Gujarat etc, which led them to reduce these fines by quite a substantial amount.
However, Delhi remains one of those states where the fines have not been reduced. Offenders are liable to pay the penalties according to the revised rates.
Interesting Anecdotes from Around the City After the Implementation of New Traffic Penalties
Apart from the drastic reduction in the number of traffic challans issued, there have been instances of several incidents around the city which have made headlines in the last couple of months.
These traffic-related anecdotes, while interesting, review the liabilities that can arise under this new regime if you do not adhere to traffic rules.
Want to know more about them? Take a look!
- In September, just after the implementation of new traffic rules, a person was fined with a hefty amount of Rs. 2,00,500 in the city. The person was charged with this penalty for overloading his truck, along with 10 other traffic rule violations. This is a record amount and is the highest amount that has been paid towards traffic rules violations in India. (source)
- Again, a Delhi man was fined with a hefty challan of Rs. 23,000 by the Gurugram police for offences like driving without a license, violation of air pollution rules, driving without a third party insurance cover, etc. (source)
