Motor vehicles bill: From hefty fines to penalising parents of juvenile drivers
The Motor Vehicle Amendment Bill will pave the way for imposing hefty penalties for traffic violations, a ten-fold increase in compensation for families of accident victims, check bogus driving license, and vehicle theft.
The Rajya Sabha will take up the proposed amendments to the Motor Vehicle Amendment Bill 2016, which was cleared by the Lok Sabha in April.
Once approved, the bill will pave the way for a host of reforms, including imposing hefty penalties for traffic violations, a ten-fold increase in compensation for families of accident victims, check bogus driving license, and vehicle theft.
Here are the key highlights of the bill:
1) Hefty penalties of up to Rs 10,000 for traffic violation such as red light jumping, talking on mobile phone, drink driving, etc
2) Penalising parents of juvenile drivers
3) Taxi aggregators brought under the motor vehicle law
4) Mandatory vehicle recall policy
5) Driving license to be valid for 20 years from the date of issue or until you complete 55 years, whichever is earlier. After that, it will be renewed every five years
6) Mandatory registration of vehicles at automobile dealer’s instead of at RTOs
7) Online issue of learner’s license to be made mandatory
8) Increasing the penalty for overspeeding, drunk driving, underage-driving, talking on mobile phone, overloading
Existing vs proposed fine for various violations
a) Juvenile caught driving: It will be a new offence. Guardian/owner will be fined Rs 25,000 with 3 years in jail. Juvenile to be tried under JJ act and registration of vehicle to be cancelled
b) Aggregators: It’s a new addition to the bill. Penalties of Rs 25,000 to up to Rs 1 lakh for violating provisions for licence as mandated under law
c) Fine for drink driving from Rs 2,000 to Rs 10,000
d) Fine for dangerous driving from Rs 1,000 to up to Rs 5,000
e) Fine for over-speeding from Rs 400 to Rs 1,000 for light motor vehicles and Rs 2,000 for medium passenger vehicles
f) Fine for jumping red light from Rs 100 to Rs 1,000 as well as a disqualification for three months. For driving without license, seat belt/helmet fine up to Rs 300
g) Driving without license: From Rs 500 to Rs 5,000
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