Uttar Pradesh is likely to reduces penalties under the new Motor Vehicles Act by 50 per cent, a state government official said on Thursday. “A proposal is being prepared by the state transport department and soon it would be placed before the cabinet for its approval,” the official said. Sources said that the police was collecting the fine as per the amended rule of the state government enforced from June last. Under the UP law, fines on without helmet, number plate and driving licence has been increased.
First Gujarat and then Uttarakhand governments slashed the traffic violation fines while the Maharashtra government was yet to enforce the new Motor Vehicles Act in view of the coming assembly polls. All the three states have BJP government. The Congress governments of Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan too have decided to slash the fines while the Mamata Banerjee government in West Bengal has decided not to implement it.
The fine for not wearing a helmet has increased from Rs 100 to Rs 1,000, while fine for not wearing a seat belt has also increased to Rs 1,000. For people found speeding or racing, the offence under new rules is Rs 5,000 compared to just Rs 500 before. For drunken driving, people need to pay Rs 10,000. The fine for driving without a valid licence is Rs 5,000. (UNI)
