The Centre's move to encourage more people to follow traffic rules and regulations seems to have struck a wrong chord with a few state governments. A handful of states are considering a reduction in fines. So far Kerala, Goa, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka, Uttarakhand and Odisha have announced that they would reduce fines or ask for a reduction. Here is what each state has demanded:
Bihar, Goa and Maharashtra: Demands a reduction in fine
Odisha, Karnataka and Kerala: Plans to reduce fines
Gujarat and Uttarakhand: Fines slashed by 90 per cent
Union Minister for Road and Transport Nitin Gadkari had said that the move to impose hefty fine was to make people adhere to the law and not as a revenue earning model.
“We are implementing this to create fear and respect for the law. It is not a revenue-earning scheme. Are you not worried about the annual deaths of 1.5 lakh people in road accidents, the majority of them in the 18-35 age group?” he said.
However, states are free to make changes in the penalties under the new Motor Vehicle Act. Gadkari reiterated that the Act was in their concurrent list and both states and the Centre have the right to formulate the law.
The past few days have seen a surge in people applying for licenses, renewing insurance, etc after the new Act was implemented. Hundreds have people have been charged with hefty fines due to multiple infringements.