Maha Defers New Motor Vehicles Act; RTO Crackdown Stiff!
The Central Government’s new Motor Vehicles Amendment Act which came into effect from September 1, 2019, has put the motorists in a soup due to its heavy imposition of penalty on violation of traffic regulations. The situation has become so grim that many states are sympathizing with the common man and accusing the Centre of loading the common man with heavy fines. Even the BJP-ruled Gujarat is not convinced by these hefty fines and has curtailed the fines to almost half. Other states are also planning to jump on the bandwagon.
Though the Maharashtra government has deferred the decision to revise the new Motor Vehicles Amendment Act for a few more days, it is expected that even the Maharashtra government will issue a notification soon as the people are frustrated at the exorbitant fines.
In Mulund, the RTO is keeping a hawk-eye on errant drivers who are made to cough up hefty fines. Every day, more than 500 errant motorists are being penalized! Shockingly, 15, 177 cases of traffic law violations have been registered in August itself while 7,000 cases have been registered in September till date!
When Home Times asked Vijay Bhise, Senior PI of Mulund Traffic Police about the Maharashtra government’s decision on reduction in the hefty fines, he said, “Till now, we have not received G.R. (Government Resolution) but we are doing our duty with dedication and penalizing errant drivers.”
Answering about the impact of implementing stringent penalties in Mulund, Vijay Bhise said, “The new penalty has certainly created fear among the errant motorists. It has brought a change in the approach and behaviour of other motorists also. The number of traffic violation cases have also reduced. In short, the motorists are slowly and gradually learning discipline.”
Maha Transport Minister Diwakar Raote urges Centre to reduce fines
Maharashtra Transport Minister, Diwakar Raote, in a letter to Road Transport and Highways Minister, Nitin Gadkari, has expressed his discontent over the exorbitantly increased fines under the Motor Vehicles Act. In his letter, he wrote the exorbitant fines are not acceptable to the state and has urged Nitin Gadkari to reduce the same by making an appropriate revision in the Motor Vehicle Act to suit the common man.
RTO Action on Motorists in August
Violation of Parking – 11, 147 cases
No Helmet -474 cases
Overloading of passengers – 338 cases
Signal Jumping – 114 cases
Talking on mobile while driving – 71
Not wearing a Seat belt – 55
Drunk and Drive – 49
Invalid/ absence of licence – 761
The RTO registered 15, 177 cases in August
RTO action on motorists in September
In September till date, RTO has registered 7,000 cases.
