Punjab's New Traffic violation rules: Fine from Rs 1000 - 40,000 for using phone while driving, Drink & Drive; In Detail
The fine imposed on the traffic rules violation willcost you a hefty sum, as per the latest notification released from the Punjab Government.As per the new rules, the fine imposed over the violation of traffic norms hasbeen increased for two and four-wheelers in the state. The new rules find mentionof over speeding, Red Light Jump, using mobile phones while driving, drink,drugs and driving, overloaded vehicles, and more than two passengers on atwo-wheeler. It doesn’t end here only in certain cases, the provision ofdriving license suspension is also included.
The new rule further guides that an officer at therank of ASI, Assistant Superintendent of Police is only authorized to imposethe fine on defaulters. Whereas the state transport officer will have to lookinto the matters with heavy vehicles. A total of six offenses were listed by the authorityin the released notification, in all six of them, the provision of suspendingdriving license for three months has been included besides an additional finedepending upon the offense. The entire detail mentions offense in comparison tothe old rules.
Over speeding:
New Rules: - Under the new norms, a Fine of Rs 1000 whereas for thesecond time fine will be increased to Rs 2000.
Old Rules: - The old rule had the provision of paying aRs 1000 fine for both the first and second time.
Light Jump:
New Rules: - Rs 1000 fine in the first instance, whereas for the second timeRs 2000.
Old Rules: - Fine of Rs 500, for the first time and Rs1000 for the offense the next time.
Using PhonesWhile Driving:
New Rules: - Rs 5000 fine the first time found guilty of the offense andRs 10,000 the next time.
Old Rules: - It had the provision of Rs 2000 at firstand a whopping Rs 10000 the next time.
Drink, Drugs,and Drive:
New Rule: - Rs 5000 at first and Rs 10000 in the second instance.
Old Rules: - Mentally Unfit and a fine of Rs 1000,whereas in the second instance the defaulter will have to pay a fine of Rs 2000.
OverloadedVehicle:
New Rules: - Rs 20000 plus Rs 2000 for every additional tonne abovepermissible limits which will exceed Rs 40,000 the next time.
Old Rules: - In both cases the provision is the fineof Rs 20000 plus Rs 2000 for every additional tonne above the permissible limit.
More than two passengersin a two-wheeler:
New Rules: -Rs 1000 fine in the first, while 2000 in the second instanceof the default.
Old Rules: - Under the old norms for both the instanceFine of Rs 1000 and 3 months suspension of license.
The traffic norms recently released had certain other provisions under, details on that as well;
Campaign inthe schools to raise awareness:
As per the new notifications, the transport departmentof the state will run a campaign spreading awareness about the traffic rulesand principles in every single school in the district among students of classes10th and 12th. The department is of the firm belief that itwill be a better deal for the future if a person while (s) he is a student takesup this idea of traffic norm’s importance and these children will even stoptheir parents from violating traffic rules.
Entitling defaultersfor community services:
The competent authority can entitle the defaulters iffound guilty to the charges of overspeeding, drink, drugs, and drive, for thecommunity services as per their wish. As per this, the defaulters will have toteach at least 20 students from the class of 9th till 12thfor at least 2 hours based on the refresher course of the transport authority. Afterthe completion of this lecture, the defaulter will be issued a certificate fromthe nodal officer. Apart from this, the defaulter will have to performcommunity service in the nearest hospital for at least two hours or donate aunit of blood.
Road rage casesin Punjab:
In the past 10 years a total of 56, 959 accidents havetaken place in Punjab in which 46, 550 people have lost their lives. Bathinda wasthe worst affected: In between 1997 till 2000, due to the black spot on theroads, a total of 191 incidents occurred grievously injuring 237 people.
Every year around 425 people have lost their lives dueto overspeeding and consumption of alcohol. Taking the matter as a huge concernthe officials are going to establish special checkpoints to stop the cases ofdrink and drive, which will also cater to the case of drugs driving afterconsuming drugs.