Everyone is terrified of traffic penalties, which is perhaps why they were developed in the first place. The Motor Vehicles Amendment, which went into effect on September 1st, 2019, with the goal of improving road safety, includes new traffic fines and infraction penalties that you should be aware of, since most of these fines have been increased significantly!

Specifically for offences like drunk driving, failing to yield to emergency vehicles such as ambulances and fire engines, driving without a licence, driving while on the phone, and driving without proper insurance, among other traffic crimes. Let's go through all of the offences and the new penalty for them:

Updated List of Traffic Fines in India for Various Violations

How to Avoid Traffic Violations and Fines for Car Owners and Drivers

1. Wear your seatbelt at all times, as should the person in the front passenger seat.
2. Keep your driver's license with you at all times. If you just have a learner's permit, make sure someone with a legal license is in the passenger seat with you.
3. Always keep under the speed limit and avoid getting too filmy when racing through town. Leave that to the stuntmen and filmmakers.
4. Always make room for emergency vehicles such as ambulances, fire engines, and police cars.
5. Even though a soft copy is sufficient, it is always preferable to keep a hard copy of your automobile insurance on your dashboard. Furthermore, constantly check the expiry date of your auto insurance policy and make sure to renew it at least one to two days before it expires. You don't want to get caught in any sticky circumstances!
6. If you haven't yet purchased vehicle insurance or if you haven't yet renewed your current coverage. It must be renewed before it expires.
7. Never attempt to bribe a police officer. According to the new amendment, that is a crime in and of itself, and you will not be able to get away with it since there is now a large fee to pay for it!
8. Even if you've only had a few drinks, never drive intoxicated. It's preferable to be dropped off by a buddy or taxi.

Owners and Riders of Two-Wheelers

1. Always wear a helmet, both you and your pillion rider.
2. If you have merely a learner's permit. At the very least, ensure that someone with a valid two-wheeler license is seated behind you.
3. Avoid riding in the incorrect lane and obey traffic laws, such as never exceeding the speed limit. That's for the stuntmen in action movies.
4. Make way for emergency vehicles such as ambulances, fire engines, and police cars at all times.
5. Even though a soft copy may do, it is usually preferable to have a hard copy of your two-wheeler insurance on hand. Furthermore, constantly check the expiry date of your two-wheeler insurance and be sure to renew it at least one to two days before it expires. You don't want to get yourself into any sticky situations!
6. If you haven't purchased two-wheeler insurance yet, or if you haven't updated your existing coverage, do so before it expires.
7. Never attempt to bribe a police officer. According to the new amendment, that is a crime in and of itself, and you will not be able to get away with it since there is now a large fee to pay for it!
8. Even if you've only had a few drinks, never ride intoxicated. It's preferable to be dropped off by a buddy or taxi.

List of States That Have Enacted New Traffic Penalties

Only a few states have completely adopted new traffic penalties. These are some examples:

1. Assam
2. Punjab
3. Sikkim
4. Jharkhand
5. Maharashtra
6. Odisha
7. New Delhi (India)

Which states did not implement new traffic fines?

Except for the states stated above, none of the states have adopted the new traffic fines. States such as Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and West Bengal have criticised the new prices as exorbitant and cruel.

Few Chief Ministers in these states have expressed concern that these fines would constitute a financial hardship for the majority of motor vehicle owners.

What are the states that enacted new traffic fines but then revised them?

The following states first imposed the new rates but later amended them:

1. Gujarat

On September 10, 2019, the Gujarat government decreased its penalty, 9 days after the Act went into effect. On the grounds of being "humanitarian and sympathetic," the state lowered all fines by 25% to 90%. Learn more about Gujarat Traffic Fines.

2. Uttarakhand

Following in the footsteps of Gujarat, the Uttarakhand government lowered traffic penalties. While the penalties for driving with an expired license was cut from Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 5,000, the fine for driving without a valid license was reduced from Rs. 5,000 to Rs. 2,500.

3. Karnataka

Following in the footsteps of Gujarat and Uttarakhand, the Karnataka government lowered fines on September 22nd, 2019. It reduced the punishment for 18 offences by 30 to 50 percent. Penalties for driving without seat belts or helmets, for example, have been decreased from Rs. 1,000 to Rs. 500. Learn more about Karnataka Traffic Fines.

4. Goa

The state of Goa initially delayed the implementation of additional traffic penalties until January 2020. Following the next cabinet meeting, the state administration has resolved to review the penalty payments for certain offences and, if necessary, cut them. Learn more about traffic fines in Goa.

5. Odisha

The state of Odisha has adopted new traffic penalties. However, the state administration has agreed to suspend the application of these additional traffic fines for a period of three months beginning in January 2020.

6. Haryana

The following states have postponed the introduction of new traffic fines:

Telangana

The revised tariffs have not yet been implemented by the state of Telangana. The Chief Minister has directed the state's Regional Transport Authority (RTA) to monitor the impact of these increased sanctions in other states before deciding how to proceed. It should be mentioned that Attorney General K. K. Venugopal has stated that states are unable to cut traffic penalties. He stated that the central government has the authority to tell states on how to execute the new penalty.