Recently, a story from Gurgaon about traffic violations attracting heavy fines has been making headlines. We look at the curious case of traffic fines that cost ₹ 23,000/- whereas the scooter being driven, was valued at about only ₹ 15,000 and the ₹ 32,000 fine for an auto jumping a red light. So are these stories true? And what should know about the new traffic rules regarding fines?
Dinesh Madan was riding an Activa without a helmet and sans any documents. He was fined on account of several violations and it all added up to ₹ 23,000 while the value of the scooter itself was a lot lower. Speaking to a news channel, Madan says he did not know about the new rules and he didn’t sound as though he appreciated the new zeal with which the cops appeared to be doing their jobs.
When an auto driver jumped a red light in the Sikandarpur area he was slapped with a massive ₹32,500 fine for multiple violations. His vehicle has also been impounded. The driver is a daily wage worker Mohamad Mustakin from West Bengal who is unlikely to be able to pay the fine to retrieve the impounded vehicle.
Many people, particularly those who think of themselves as law-abiding citizens, are quite happy that these stiff fines are being imposed. They feel that this has the potential to modify driving behaviour which will have a positive impact on everyone's road safety.
Most people felt that the fine amounts are preposterous, particularly in view of the value of the vehicles in question. Maybe such a fine amount for a BMW would appear more commensurate?
Many people feel that the sort of fine amounts that could cost more than the vehicle being driven; or a fine amount that effectively leaves a poor person without a source of income are unreasonable and outrageous.
Stiff fines such as these would effectively require a person to lose their vehicle, felt some of the tweeple.
Maybe people will opt not to take back their impounded vehicles in cases such as these.
In a country where there are vehicles such as the famous ‘jugaad’ plying on the roads; vehicles made out of water-pump-sets, such fines do not make a lot of sense.
This tweet suggests that while riding without a helmet is illegal, walking without one is not. It seems to indicate that Indians have always been very good at finding loopholes within laws and that they will find ways to circumvent and escape these new rules as well.
Many pointed to Singapore and other developed nations who levy stiff fines, where compliance of traffic rules is very high. In reply, the tweeple pointed out the disparity between the facilities offered to road users in those countries vis-à-vis India. They stressed that if the administration levies large fines, it is ought also to maintain the roads, streetlights, traffic lights and other facilities for road users.
Some of the tweeple were of the view that road users should be able to fine or sue the road authorities in turn as well. This twitter user shared this viral video to make his point (video made by a Bangalore man who donned a spacesuit to draw attention to the potholes on the road).
Obviously there were many who find the whole situation hilarious… they are not the ones facing stiff fines.
This clip from the movie Bharat Ane Nenu starring superstar Mahesh Babu appears to be the inspiration behind this move feel some.
If the new fines make more people stop at red lights, follow lane discipline, wear helmets and stop using their phones while driving, this would be great! It wouldn’t be as great if the fines were ridiculously high and if the state of our roads continues to be abysmal at so many places.
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