Have you ever received a challan penalty for violating any traffic rule? If yes, you should know there are serious consequences for violating traffic rules in India.
The Government of India has devised certain traffic penalties for different states in accordance with the Motor Vehicles Act of 1988. According to this act, traffic police can issue traffic fines to penalise an offender whenever he/she violates any traffic rules. Such fines or penalties, in turn, help to preserve road safety and regulations in every part of India.
However, there are some differences in challan penalties in different states of India. The following gives you a brief idea of the traffic penalties in Assam and Maharashtra.
Why are the Challan Penalties Different in Assam and Maharashtra
The Government of India revised the traffic fine rates in December 2019 in order to restore road safety and inhibit road rule violations. However, different state governments had different reactions in response to the amendment.
Assam is one of the few states that has adopted these new rates of traffic fines. Unlike Assam, Maharashtra was among those states that have refused to increase the penalty rates according to the latest amendment. This has resulted in a huge difference in the rate of traffic penalties in states like Assam and Maharashtra.
Challan Penalties in Maharashtra and Assam: Points of Difference
Some new traffic penalties have been introduced in Maharashtra that are quite different from the challan penalties in Assam. While most of the traffic penalties are the same in both states, some penalties are different for the same offence.
The following is a clear list of offences for which the traffic challan penalties are much different for the two states. They are:
Penalty for driving without a valid driving license
Maharashtra: The penalty for this offence amounts to Rs. 1,000 for two-wheelers and Rs. 2,000 for four-wheelers
Assam: The penalty is as high as Rs. 5,000 in Assam
Penalty for blocking emergency vehicles while driving
Maharashtra: This challan penalty has been revised and lowered from Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 1,000
Assam: This penalty amounts to Rs. 10,000.
Penalty for over-speeding
Maharashtra: This state has levied a traffic penalty of Rs. 4,000 for breaking the speed limit, irrespective of the size of the car.
Assam: This value varies from Rs. 2,000 to Rs. 4,000, depending on the weight of the car.
Penalty for minors driving a car
Maharashtra: This traffic challan penalty is as high as Rs. 5,000
Assam: The same traffic violation will cost you Rs. 1,000
Penalty for a general traffic offence
Maharashtra: The penalty is Rs. 5,000 for the first offence and Rs. 10,000 for the subsequent ones.
Assam: The penalty is Rs. 500 and Rs.1,500 for the first and second time.
Penalty for unauthorised driving
Maharashtra: The penalty is Rs. 10,000
Assam: The penalty is Rs. 5,000 for each time of the offence.
Other Traffic Challan Penalties in Maharashtra
In Maharastra, stringent traffic rules may lead to the issuance of challan penalties for violation. Here are the significant challan penalties practised in Maharashtra, along with their corresponding offences:
Penalty for driving without a seat belt: Rs. 1,000 for each time of the offence.
Penalty for rash driving:
For the first offence- Rs. 5,000
For subsequent offences- Rs. 10,000
Penalty for parking in 'no parking zone':
For the first time- Rs. 500
For subsequent times- Rs. 1500
Some of the Traffic Challan Penalties in Assam
Some of the traffic penalties in Assam are listed as follows:
Penalty for learners driving without L plates:
For the first time- Rs. 500
For subsequent times- Rs. 1,000
Penalty for using a mobile phone while driving:
For the first time- Rs. 5,000
For subsequent times- Rs. 10,000
Penalty for not carrying registration and fitness certificate:
For the first time- Rs. 5,000
For subsequent times- Rs. 10,000
What if Challan Penalties are not paid in Maharashtra and Assam?
If you ever fail to pay traffic challans within 60 days of their issuance, you can face grave consequences in states like Maharashtra and Assam. On failing to pay on time, a traffic police officer may go to your registered home address to collect the fine.
If the traffic police can't find you at the registered address, you will then be asked to appear before the court and explain the reason for the violation. However, if you do not appear for the court hearing on time, your license will be cancelled immediately.
Conclusion
In India, traffic rule violation is illegal and dangerous, compromising road users' safety. It can lead to traffic penalties for offenders who violate the traffic rules.
The severity of the punishment usually varies with the nature of the offence. The traffic driver can levy a fine on the offender, ranging from a few hundred rupees to disqualifying the driving license. You can read more about checking challan for traffic penalties on the Park+ website.
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