Taking a leaf out of Maharashtra and Gujarat, Karnataka government led by Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa has decided to reduce the newly introduced traffic fines as per the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019. The law was passed by both the Houses of Parliament with three major amendments recently.
According to the CM’s office, Yediyurappa during a review meeting asked Transport Minister Laxman Savadi to look at the steps taken by the Maharashtra and Gujarat governments to give relief to citizens affected by the new fines. In some cases, the fines have increased 10 times, proving too exorbitant for violators.
"Chief Minister Yediyurappa insisted that the fine amount be reduced to ensure that the common man can afford it. He has asked the Transport Department to get copies of government orders issued in this regard from Gujarat and Maharashtra and then come up with updated fines," an official told TNM.
The exact modalities are being decided by officials of the Transport Department and the exact change in the fine rates will be notified shortly. Till then offenders will be fined according to existing rates as introduced earlier this month. A government order with the revised fine amounts will be published once it is okayed by the CM.
It was reported how a Bengaluru man had to pay a fine of Rs 17,000 since the higher fines kicked in. The Bengaluru motorist, Akash, is a resident of Varthur and works with a private company. Out of the Rs 17,000, he had to pay Rs 10,000 for drinking and driving, Rs 5,000 for driving without a license and Rs 2,000 as both he and his pillion rider did not have helmets.
The traffic police department has been enforcing the new fines for the last few days. As per statistics released by Bengaluru Traffic Police department, there were 6,813 people booked for traffic violations in Bengaluru between September 4 and September 9 (until 10 am). Traffic police officials collected over Rs 72 lakh in fines in the same period.