With the new Motor Vehicle Act in force, a truck driver and its owner were fined a total of Rs 2,00,500 for overloading and traffic violations near Delhi’s Mukarba Chowk on
The truck driver was challaned Rs 56,000 for overloading and Rs 70,000 for other traffic violations. The owner of the vehicle was fined Rs 74,500 for various violations, amounting to a combined total of Rs 2,00,500.
The total amount was paid by the owner of the truck.
Delhi Police has issued over 3,900 challans to traffic rule violators after the amended motor vehicles act came into effect on September 1.
Huge fines for traffic violations have been criticised by BJP and non-BJP-ruled states. However, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has this time backed the Centre on the move saying that Delhi’s traffic has improved because of the new rules.
He, however, said that if the people were facing difficulties with the new rules and his government had the power to reduce the fines, he would do it.
“There has been an improvement in Delhi’s traffic ever since the new Motor Vehicles Act has been implemented,” Kejriwal said as he announced the Odd-Even vehicle scheme in the city from November 4-15 to tackle the rising menace of air pollution around the time of Diwali.
The Parliament in July passed the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill, 2019, which seeks to tighten road traffic regulations such as the issuance of driving licence and imposed stricter penalties for violations in an attempt to improve road safety.
Under the new law, people not wearing helmets or seat-belts will be fined Rs 1,000, which was Rs 100 earlier, while those driving without a licence can be fined Rs 5,000 or face three-month jail.
The new law allows the central government to order for recall of motor vehicles if a defect in the vehicle may cause damage to the environment, or the driver, or other road users.