After the new traffic rules came into effect from September 1 under the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, several cases of autorickshaw drivers paying hefty fines are being reported from different parts of India. In Gurgaon, an auto driver was handed over a challan of ₹32,500 after he was found to have jumped red light signal and in Bhubaneswar a drunk autorickshaw driver was fined ₹47,500.
According to agency reports, the auto driver in Odisha had bought the second-hand three-wheeler few days ago for ₹26,000. He was found to be allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol and also not carrying driving license, registration certificate, permit, pollution certificate and insurance among others.
"I bought this second-hand auto only seven days back for ₹26,000. Police not only slapped a fine of ₹47,500 on me but also seized my vehicle. This is not fair at all," said Hari Bandhu Kanhar, the aggrieved auto owner.
However, Pradeep Kumar Mohanty, Regional Transport Officer (RTO), said: "The vehicle has been seized. He has to pay the fine. Our aim is to keep the public safe. They should follow the law and order in the state."
The challan shows the penalty of ₹47,500 included ₹5,000 for having an invalid driving license, ₹10,000 for drunken driving, ₹10,000 for violating air/noise pollution, ₹10,000 for violating permit conditions and ₹5,000 in other references.
He was also fined ₹5,000 for using a vehicle without registration, ₹2,000 for plying without insurance and general offence of ₹500.
In Gurgaon, an auto driver was similarly fined ₹32,500 after he was caught jumping a red light signal by the traffic police. His vehicle was also seized for multiple violations.
