Pay 200% more as fine for repeating traffic offence in Delhi

NEW DELHI: Repeated a traffic offence? Get set to pay a substantially higher fine of up to 200% more than what you paid the first time. If you commit the offence a third time, your licence will be seized on the spot.

These measures will be part of a crackdown on traffic violations, which will be launched by Delhi Police on Tuesday, as per the guidelines of a Supreme Court committee on roads safety.

TOI had first reported about the move on November 19.

As per the recommendations, the traffic police could seize the licence of even first-time offenders for serious offences like drunk driving and send them to the transport department, which would suspend the licence for three to six months. The department might also move for permanent cancellation if the nature of the offence is grave.

"We have been pushing for this for the past few years until the order was passed. We hope this will be a deterrent," said Muktesh Chander, special commissioner, traffic. Police officers say this is the first time the clause in the Motor Vehicle Act which allows suspension of licences is being invoked in the country.

According to traffic cops, changes have been made to the e-challan machines, which would show the subsequent offences as soon as a licence is punched into the system. If the offender is found to have committed the same offence a third time, the machine will automatically issue a receipt mentioning seizure of licence. The driver will have to approach the transport department to get it cleared.




Earlier, traffic police could only recommend suspension or cancellation of licences to the transport department, which would then send a notice to the offender to surrender the licence. However, the notices often remained unserved.

A suspension order (on repeating the same offence a third time) would be applicable for violations like overspeeding, overloading, and using mobile phones while at the wheel. The traffic police had approached the apex court to issue a directive that would give it the power to seize licences, which the committee has now granted. The committee has also recommended jail terms for driving under influence or recklessly.

For traffic rules violations like not wearing helmets or seat belts, the committee has recommended road safety education and counselling.