Bhubaneswar: Transport officials and Odisha police have collected a whopping Rs 88.90 lakh as penalty from erring riders and drivers of the state in the first four days after Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019 came into force September 1.
According to a source in Motor Vehicles Department, a total of 4,080 challans were issued for various violations of traffic laws with a total collection of Rs 88.90 lakh till end of day September 4.
Check posts have been installed at several places across the state to enforce the new law. Reports of surprise checks on major roads also came in from various places.
While the cops and RTO officials came to news Wednesday for fining an auto-rickshaw driver cum owner a whopping Rs52,500, Thursday another autorickshaw driver became news after he was fined Rs 27,500. Besides, a vehicle on government duty was also fined.
A mini-truck doing duty for the Enforcement Squad of Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) was fined Rs 15,000 – Rs 10,000 for lacking permit and Rs 5,000 for carrying passengers in goods vehicle– was imposed on it.
It may be mentioned here that this July 31, Parliament passed the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill, 2019 that has provisions for stricter and heavier penalties for violations in an attempt to improve road safety. The Bill got President’s assent August 9 and is applicable pan India from September 1.
The Act provides for a penalty of Rs 10,000 fine for not giving way to emergency vehicles and Rs 10,000 for driving despite disqualification. Penalty for dangerous driving has been increased to Rs 5,000 from Rs 1,000, while drunken driving under the new law attracts a fine of Rs 10,000.
Penalties for over-speeding range from Rs 1,000- 2,000 for over-speeding. Driving without insurance is punishable with Rs 2,000 fine while driving without helmets will attract Rs 1,000 penalty and 3-month suspension of licence.
Also, the guardian/owner will be deemed guilty in case of road offence by juveniles, while registration of the vehicle will be cancelled. Traffic violations now attract a penalty of Rs 500 in place of Rs 100 earlier, while disobedience of orders of authorities will attract a minimum penalty of Rs 2,000 in place of Rs 500 earlier.