Fine upto 2500 for violation of some traffic rules -- cabinet approval ... an issue

Fine upto 2500 for violation of some traffic rules -- cabinet approval ... an issue

Though it was reported yesterday that the cabinet sanctioned increasing the fine upto 25000 in relation to some traffic violations, to what extent it was valid is something that was subjected to a dialogue.

It was proposed that the minimum fine to be imposed is to be increased upto Rs. 25000 and the following violations come under that category:

driving without a valid licence, assigning someone without a valid licence to drive your vehicle, driving under the influence of liquor or drugs, vehicles gaining unsafe access to railway tracks, driving without a valid insurance cover.

Apart from the above, it has been approved to impose a spot fine of Rs. 2,000 for overtaking from the left and for using mobile phones while driving; Rs. 10,000 for driving negligently; to increase the fine of 5,000 to 30,000 in the case of underaged persons driving and the minimum fine imposed on fines not listed in the act of Punishable Offences to be increased upto Rs. 2,500.

Attorney-at-Law Prathibha Mahanama says that fines increased on these offences would not be enforced simply because it has been approved by the cabinet. What he said was that if these amendments are to take effect it has to be passed in parliament and cabinet approval must be taken. He has also added that what is required for the Act in connection with traffic offences to be amended is a common majority of the parliament.