New delhi sources stated that the Motor Vehicles Amendment Act has hit the controversy with multiple states accusing the Centre of burdening the common man with hefty fines. Meanwhile the Act, which came into effect from September 1, aims at stricter punishment for violation of traffic regulations and to bring discipline on roads.
Furthermore the government has notified 63 provisions of the Motor Vehicles Amendment Act 2019, including the ones dealing with enhanced penalties for various traffic offenses, from September 1. Apparently the new rules have revised the penalty for drunken driving to imprisonment up to 6 months and/or fine up to Rs 10,000 for first offense and imprisonment up to 2 years and/or fine of Rs 15,000 for the second offense.
Moreover the penalty for driving without a license will be increased from up to Rs 500 to Rs 5,000. Perhaps fine for not wearing a seatbelt would attract a fine of Rs 1,000 as against Rs 100 at present and the over-speeding penalty has been increased from Rs 400 to Rs 1,000 to Rs 2,000. Apparently many state governments, including the BJP ruled Gujarat, are not convinced by the provisions of hefty fines.
