The government has introduced stringent new measures to address non-compliance with traffic rule violations.
Starting now, vehicle owners who fail to pay e-challan fines within three months risk suspension of their driving licenses. Furthermore, individuals accumulating more than three serious e-challans for offences such as red-light jumping or reckless driving within a financial year may have their licenses confiscated for at least three months.
To bolster compliance, the government plans to link higher insurance premiums to pending challans. Owners with at least two unpaid fines from the previous financial year could face increased costs while renewing their policies.
These measures follow a Supreme Court mandate to ensure adherence to the Central Motor Vehicles Act under Section 136A, which requires electronic monitoring for traffic rule enforcement. However, compliance data reveals alarming trends: Delhi has the lowest rate of e-challan fine recovery at 14%, while Odisha fares only slightly better with a 29% recovery rate.
E-challan notices will now be issued within three days, giving recipients 30 days to either pay or contest the fines. Non-payment beyond three months could lead to the suspension of driving licenses until full payment is made.
By intensifying its efforts, the government aims to promote a culture of responsible driving and accountability on the roads.
