The government is making new rules to be strict on drivers. The licenses of those who do not pay the challan within three months can be suspended. The insurance premium can also increase if two challans are pending in the previous financial year.
New Delhi: The government is considering a new rule for those who do not pay traffic challans. Those who do not pay their traffic e-challan (fine) amount within three months may soon have their driving licenses suspended. On the other hand, those who have accumulated three challans in a financial year – for jumping red lights or driving dangerously – may have their licenses confiscated for at least three months.
Insurance will be expensive if challan is pending
These are part of a series of measures that the government plans to implement to curb errant drivers. The government has found that barely 40% of the e-challan amount has been recovered. There has been massive non-compliance. Sources said the government has also devised a strategy to add higher insurance premiums. If someone has at least two pending challans from the previous financial year, he may have to pay a higher insurance premium.
Detail after Supreme Court order
This detail has been prepared after the order of the Supreme Court. In this, 23 states and seven union territories have been directed to file compliance reports indicating the implementation of electronic monitoring as per the provision in the Central Motor Vehicles Act.
Section 136A of the Act specifically mentions the deployment of advanced technologies such as speed and CCTV cameras, speed-guns, body-worn cameras and automatic number plate recognition systems to ensure better traffic management and enforcement of traffic laws.
Delhi has lowest fine recovery
TOI has found that among the states and union territories with high incidence of traffic rule violations, Delhi has the lowest rate of fine recovery at barely 14%. It is followed by Karnataka (21%), Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh (27-27%) and Odisha (29%). Rajasthan, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Haryana are among the major states that have recorded a recovery rate of 62%-76%.
Why people are not paying the fines
Sources said there are several reasons why people do not pay the fines quickly. These include late payment of challans and faulty challans. They said the government is going to bring in a comprehensive standard operating procedure, which will include minimum specifications for cameras and to ensure that alerts about pending challans are sent repeatedly every month to vehicle owners or drivers until the fine is paid.
