Delhi traffic police cops to pay double fine for violating Motor Vehicles Act

Delhi police personnel will have to pay twice the penalty if they violate traffic rules in the national capital, according to an official order.

Law enforcement officers have to pay double the amount as mentioned under the new Motor Vehicles Act.

For instance, if a Delhi traffic police personnel is caught not wearing helmet, he will be fined ₹2,000 instead of ₹1,000, as prescribed under the amended Motor Vehicles Act. The rule is applicable while they are riding or driving police vehicles or private vehicles.

"Any authority that is empowered to enforce the provision of this Act, if such authority commits an offense...shall be liable for twice the penalty corresponding to that offence..." said Meenu Choudhary, Joint Commissioner of Police (traffic), in the order.

"Therefore, all DCPs/Units are directed to brief and sensitise the staff working under their operational control accordingly to follow traffic rules and regulations in true letter and spirit whether they are riding or driving police vehicles or their own private vehicles," the order said.

The Parliament had in July passed the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill, 2019, which seeks to tighten road traffic regulations such as the issuance of driving licence and imposes stricter penalties for violations in an attempt to improve road safety.

Delhi traffic police officers will wear cameras on their body to record traffic violations, said Narendra Singh Bundela, Joint Commissioner of Police (traffic) on Tuesday.

Higher traffic penalties have came into effect across the country from September 1 under the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill, 2019.

Delhi Police issued 3,900 challans to traffic rule violators on the first day of the newly amended Motor Vehicles Act. As the Delhi government has not notified the new rules, traffic police personnel have been issuing court challans for traffic violations.