Traffic offence penalties | Motor Vehicles Amendment Act 2019

Motor vehicles act

Motor vehicles act is an act which regulates all aspects related to road transport vehicles. In India first such act came in british rule In 1914 as Indian motor vehicles act 1914. This act gave local government responsibilities of registration and licensing the vehicles and motor. In 1939 it was replaced by Motor Vehicles act 1939. After independence parliament of India came up with law or act in 1988 as Motor Vehicles act 1988. This act replaced previous one which is made in British rule. This act was made to regulate licencing of driver, registration of motor vehicles, control of motors, traffic regulations, insurance, liabilities, offences and penalties.  Motor vehicles act 1988 is amended and made heavy penalties for traffic offences and it came into force from September 1  2019.

Why is this amendment made

Motor vehicles act 1988 was made in 1980's since than many things has changed and act becomes inadequate for current situation.  Today traffic became so congested, peoples were not following traffic rules and penalty for traffic offences were quite low and peoples holding multiple licenses and accidents increased since1988. According to Road Accident in India 2016 report road accidents in India have come down 4.1 percent in 2016 from 2015. Despite decreased in road accidents but fatalities resulting from these accidents have increased by 3.2 percent. India is signed the Brasilia Declaration on Road Safety as per this India committed to reduce number of fatalities and serious injuries to 50 percent  by 2020. As per the survey, In 2016 there are more than 1280 accidents caused because of designing fault. Motor vehicles act 1988 did not held road contractors liable for defects in construction. 

traffic offence penalty under new Motor Vehicles Act, 2019

Penalties for traffic offence in new law is increased by almost 10 percent on certain offences. 

• Violating rules of road regulations increased from 100 to 500
• Unauthorized use of vehicles without license is raised to 5000 from earlier 1000
• Driving despite disqualification is raised from 500 to 10000
• For Oversize vehicle it is upto 5000
• For over speed 1000 for LMV and 2000 for medium passengers vehicles 
• Dangerous driving 10000
• Speed / racing  5000
• Vehicles without permits penalty upto 10000
• Driving by minor would cost to parents/vehicle owner up to 25000
• Driving without insurance is raised to 2000 from earlier 1000
• Riding without helmet is increased from 100 to 1000
• Obstructing emergency vehicles would cost upto 10000
• For seat belt it is raised to 1000 from 100
• For Dangerous driving penalty upto 5000.