People in India are supposed to follow traffic rules and maintain the proper flow of traffic. Despite the rules being set, people do not hesitate before breaking the rules for their good. The Government and the Constitution of India have mutually set some rules. People who break any kind of traffic rules will have to pay a respective fine/challan penalty as mentioned in the Motors Vehicle Act 1988. The rules are revised in a short while due to which everyone must know about the fines that are being increased/decreased.
Now there's lots of confusion that challan penalties vary for different states. Actually, there's little to no difference as the rules are instituted by the Central Government. However, the challan penalties may vary if the state government has modified the challan penalties according to their respective conditions. Here we will look into the difference between challan penalties in Arunachal Pradesh and Maharashtra.
Driving without a seat belt is liable to a fine of Rs. 1000. In case a minor is driving a car (one who is of age less than 18 and is not eligible for license or driving) then the vehicle owner will be fined Rs. 25,000. If any light motor vehicle or passenger goods vehicle carries more than the allowed weight then they are charged for overloading with Rs. 2000.
If the driver is riding a bike without a helmet then they will be fined with Rs. 1000. In the next case if the bike is riding with three people, then in this case as well the vehicle owner will be fined with Rs. 1000.
Vehicles are not allowed to carry excess luggage and if found guilty they will be fined Rs. 500 for the first time if they repeat the process. Next time they will be fined Rs. 1500. Similarly, the vehicle owner gets fined for driving without a number plate Rs. 500 for the first time and Rs. 1500 for repetition.
Parking in a restricted location is strictly against the traffic rules and for that, you can be fined Rs. 500 for the first time and Rs. 1500 in case of repetition. If you are found disobeying traffic signals or driving dangerously (rash driving) or driving while using your mobile phone then you will be fined Rs. 5000 for the first offense and Rs. 10000 for repetition.
Drinking and driving causes lots of risks and for that, drunk driving is a serious offense and the culprit can be fined Rs. 10000 for the same. Violation of road regulations is also a mistake and chargeable with Rs. 1000. Driving a vehicle without registration and/or driving an uninsured vehicle is against the rules and hence the owner is fined Rs. 2000.
Over-speeding is one of the main reasons for collisions between vehicles and to avoid that light motor vehicles (LMV) are fined with Rs. 1000 for over-speeding and medium passenger goods are fined with Rs. 2000 for the same.
Here are some other challan penalties:
Carrying explosive/inflammable substances: Rs. 10000
Not giving passage to emergency vehicle Rs. 10000
Driving when mentally or physically unfit to drive
For the first offense: Rs. 1000
For repeat offense: Rs. 2000
For the first offense: Rs. 5000
For repeat offense: Rs. 10000
Disqualified person driving a vehicle: Rs. 10000
Driving a vehicle registered in another state for more than 12 months
For the first offense: Rs. 500
For repeat offense: Rs. 1500
For the first offense: Rs. 500
For repeat offense: Rs. 1500
Driving without a valid driving license: Rs. 5000
Driving without insurance: Rs. 2000
Overloading: Rs. 2000
In Arunachal Pradesh: If a person fails to pay the challan within 15 days then they are charged with a penalty for late payment. If they still do not intend to pay, a police constable visits the registered address for the recovery. Even then, if a person still opposes paying the challan penalty then they are summoned to the district court for legal action.
In Maharashtra: If a person does not intend to pay the challan penalty, then a police constable visits the registered address for the recovery. If a person does not clear the dues in 60 days then they are called to the district court to face legal action and this might lead to their license suspension forever.
Paying challan penalties is an important responsibility that we should all take seriously. It may not be the most pleasant thing to do, but it plays a crucial role in maintaining order and safety on the roads. Think of it as a way to contribute to a better society. When we pay our challan penalties promptly, we're not only fulfilling our legal obligations but also helping to ensure that everyone follows the rules and regulations that are in place for our own protection.
For more on challan penalties, download the Park+ app, where you can read more about
challan penalties in different states. Also, you can go to checking challan and check your pending challan status in just one click.