A message has been going viral on WhatsApp in the Telugu states of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, which appeals to motorists and warns them to pay pending challans on their vehicles by August 31, failing which the old penalties will be doubled automatically.
From Septemer 1, a new Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019 was implemented across India. The message claimed that the police's software would be updated due to this and that the challans would be doubled. However, the police have clarified that this news is fake.
The Hyderabad police are getting ready to implement the new MV Act, and have already put up such posters in many places. Under the new law, the penalties for traffic violations like triple riding, riding without helmet or seatbelt and drunk driving have been drastically increased. However, there is no mention of existing penalties being doubled. The police have urged vehicle owners to take note of the new law and follow traffic rules.
Watch the video below.
Under the new rules, if one is caught driving without a seat belt, a fine of Rs 1,000 will be imposed, compared to the earlier Rs 100. If one is caught driving while using a mobile phone, it will invite a fine of Rs 1,000 to Rs 5,000.
Drunk driving earlier used to invite a fine of Rs 2,000. Now, it has been hiked to Rs 10,000. In another move, a driver can be fined Rs 10,000 for not giving way to emergency vehicles such as ambulance and fire brigade.