Even though the new Motor Vehicles (MV) Act is yet to be implemented in Telangana state, a biker was penalised Rs 10,000 as per the new Act, for drunk driving in Nalgonda district on Tuesday. Earlier, the fine for drunk driving was Rs 2,000.
According to a report by The New Indian Express, the offender was caught by the traffic police at Nakrekal Centre on Friday. He was found with Blood Alcohol Content level of 172/100 mg.
Police seized his vehicle and produced the offender before the judicial first class magistrate (JFCM) court in Nakrekal. The court observed that since the accused was a first time offender, he was imposed with a fine of Rs 10,000 as per the new MV Act, and the failure in paying the penalty would result in 15 days of imprisonment.
Though heavy penalties were introduced in the newly amended MV Act, the Telangana government is yet to implement it in the state.
Telangana Principal Secretary (Transport) Sunil Sharma, earlier told media that the government is deliberating on the quantum of penalties and other modalities and that the Act will not be implemented right away.
The Telangana Road Transport Authority (RTA) is yet to issue a gazette notification for compounding of certain offences.
“Offences like drunk driving are not compounding under the (MV) Act, and are directly tried by the court. Offences like not wearing a helmet, minor driving, wrong-side driving are ‘compounding’, and hence, need a GO to be brought into force,” SP of Nalgonda, AV Ranganath told The New Indian Express.
Under the new MV Act, If one is caught driving without a seat belt, it will cost a fine of Rs 1,000, cell-phone driving will invite a fine of between Rs 1,000-5,000. A driver can be fined Rs 10,000 for not giving way to emergency vehicles like ambulance and fire brigade. There is a fine of Rs 5,000 for driving without licence.