Delhi government studying fines under Motor Vehicles Act

NEW DELHI: While the new Motor Vehicles Act amendments are being implemented from Sunday, Delhi government is still working on some categories of offences where it can reduce the quantum of penalties.

Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Tuesday, “Many states are saying they won’t implement it. But the Centre has implemented it and states do not have any discretionary power.”

He added, “States can decide the quantum of penalties only in certain categories of offences. But the Centre has kept very few such categories. Maximum cases will end up in court. We are studying how states are saying no.” A source said the amended Act would be notified soon.


Section 200 of MV Act authorises Delhi government to issue a Gazette notification for compounding of certain offences, transport minister Kailash Gahlot had said on Saturday. As heavy penalties have been prescribed under the Act after a gap of many years, the compounding notification would be issued after consulting the traffic police and other stakeholders, he had said.

The section authorises a state government to fix the quantum of penalty for some compoundable offences, a transport official clarified. “The government can reduce penalties in case of compoundable offences. For instance, the penalty for talking on mobile phone while driving is Rs 5,000 but if Delhi government decides, it can be fixed at Rs 2,000 provided the offender is paying the fine on the spot,” the official said.

Under this provision, an offender gets to pay less if he pays on the spot but if he wants to settle it in court, he can be fined up to Rs 5,000, the official added.