It has been already five days since the Pune car crash took place. It has not only left the entire nation mourning but also raised a few questions about the rules regulations and judicial system of India. On 19th May, A 17-year-old Boy who was driving a high-end Unregistered Porsche with a speed over 115 km/hr killed two IT engineers living and working in Pune. The question that the entire nation wants to ask is how did RTO allow an unregistered car to drive on the roads of Pune at such high speed.
The story behind the news:
The vehicle was temporarily registered, and Vishal Agarwal, the accused's father, paid Rs 45,000 for a stylish number plate but neglected to pay the required registration cost.
The Porsche Taycan's registration has been pending since March, according to the Maharashtra transport department, because Agarwal failed to pay the Rs 1,758 registration fees. Despite paying Rs 45,000 to the Regional Transport Office (RTO) to obtain the car's preferred number plate, the registration process was not completed.
The registration fee for the Porsche Taycan model comprised Rs 1,500 for hypothecation, Rs 200 for smart card registration fees, and Rs 58 for postal services. This is because electric vehicles registered in Maharashtra are exempt from road tax.
The Porsche vehicle was imported in March by a Bengaluru dealer, and from there, it was transported to Pune under a provisional registration, according to Maharashtra Transport Commissioner Vivek Bhimanwar.
According to an RTO officer, road tax and registration costs would have totaled about Rs 50 lakh if the vehicle hadn't been an electric vehicle. The ex-showroom pricing of a Porsche automobile is between Rs 96 lakh and Rs 2 crore. The Porsche website does not list the Taycan model's price, although it would cost at least Rs 2.25 crore.
Transport Commissioner Bhimanwar said that upon the car's production at the Pune RTO, it was discovered that the owner had neglected to pay a specific registration charge. He was asked to do so to complete the registration procedure. Nevertheless, the car wasn't taken to the RTO to finish the process after that.
Guidelines for Temporary Vehicle Registration
An automobile owner can acquire a temporary registration certificate from the regional RTO, which enables the vehicle to be driven for a restricted amount of time until the permanent registration procedure is finished.
As long as one follows the regulations, driving a car in India with a temporary license plate is acceptable.
The owner of a vehicle must apply for temporary registration at the time of purchase per the guidelines in the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, and the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. Car dealers typically help to streamline the procedure. For a temporary registration, the owner needs to supply the required paperwork and payment.
The vehicle must have the temporary registration number visible, either painted or affixed on a plate.
Temporary registration is valid for 30 days from the date of issuance for driving a vehicle. If the owner does not finish the permanent registration process within this time frame, they may seek for an extension, which registering authorities may give under special circumstances.
The Motor Vehicles Act of 1988 mandates that failing to get a valid temporary or permanent registration is a criminal crime. Penalties for the owner might include fines, jail time, or both. Moreover, the car can be seized until its owner has a legitimate registration.
RTO Responsibilities
The RTO administers driving exams and provides or renews driver's licenses to car owners. Every new car must first be registered with the neighborhood RTO and after that, the license plate is then issued. Additionally, it issues and renews automobile registration certificates. The Registration Certificate (RC) of a vehicle or its ownership can be transferred with the assistance of the RTO. It keeps track of drivers and vehicles and uses the registration number to give details about the vehicle.
The RTO issues documentation of vehicles, such as trade certificates fitness certificates, or NOCs (No Objection Certificates), which are necessary when transferring a car from one state to another. When a vehicle is registered for the first time, the road tax is collected. If the car complies with the Motor Vehicles Act, the RTO inspects it. The PUC (Pollution Under Control) certificate being issued and the installation of the CNG/LPG kit being inspected. Transport and commercial vehicle permits are issued by the RTO.
It maintains the different safety signs that are placed on the roadways, works to enhance the state of the roads, and raises public awareness of road safety.
For what reason was the Porsche not registered?
Once the temporary registration was completed, the automobile was turned over by the Porsche dealer in Bengaluru. Therefore, before using it on the roads, the owner had to get it registered with the RTO. The automobiles are only permitted to be driven to and from the RTO during the temporary registration period.
According to Transport Commissioner Bhimanwar, the teenager operating the vehicle won't be able to obtain a driver's license until he becomes 25. In addition, the Porsche Taycan's current temporary registration will be canceled per the Motor Vehicles Act, meaning it won't be possible for it to register at any RTO office for 12 months.
It has been requested that the Pune RTO file a police report for the MV Act's violations.
What is the Pune RTO doing now?
All car dealers in Pune have been instructed by the Pune RTO to stop letting cars drive around without the required registration.
An inspection is in progress, according to an RTO representative, but no data on the quantity of unregistered cars in the city is currently available. "We have sent out a notification requiring registration to all of the city's car dealers. The city has sent out flying teams to check car registrations. According to Sanjeev Bhor, RTO, Pune, "The business license could be suspended for 15 days to six months if our team finds vehicles operating on city roads without temporary or permanent registration," as per the reports.
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