Whether you own a vehicle or not, you’ve probably heard about the Motor Vehicles Act and its amendments that came into effect from September 1. The transport ministry has bumped up penalty amounts for violators of traffic rules in a bid to dissuade anyone from flouting them in the future.
As per the revised fines, the traffic police has been challaning offenders for not wearing helmets, not carrying proper documents etc. The Economic Times reports that an auto driver was fined Rs. 32,500 in Haryana while a tractor driver received a challan for Rs. 59,000.
Now, Meenu Chaudhary, the Joint Commissioner of Police (traffic) in Delhi has issued a circular stating that cops who flout traffic rules will be liable to pay double the penalty mentioned in the Act.
India Today quoted her saying, “In case of jumping a stop signal or not wearing a seat belt or a helmet will be liable to pay double the amount of compound violations issued by traffic cops.”
According to The Hindu, the rule categorically mentions that “any authority that is empowered to enforce the provision of the Motor Vehicles Act, if found committing an offence under the Act, shall be liable for twice the penalty corresponding to that offence under the Act.”
This rule applies to police officers riding/driving official vehicles as well as their personal vehicles. This move has been implemented so that everyone follows the rules “in letter and spirit” and the cases of corruption and misbehaviour in the department are curtailed.
Senior officials are now educating their staff on the new rules and also asking them not to issue cash challans. Only court challans can be issued.