5 Traffic Violations in One Year May Lead to License Suspension | India News

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New Traffic Offence Rules in New Delhi

NEW DELHI: Accumulating five or more traffic offences within a year may result in a three-month ban on driving. This new rule has been implemented by the road transport ministry as part of an amendment to the Motor Vehicles Rules, aimed at curbing habitual offenders.

Authority Over License Suspension

The Regional Transport Office (RTO) or district transport office holds the authority to suspend a driving license (DL). According to the new rules, the licensing authority must provide the license holder with an opportunity for a hearing before any suspension takes place.

Effective Date of New Regulations

The new condition regarding disqualification for five or more offences will take effect from January 1. It is important to note that traffic offences will not be carried over beyond one calendar year.

Clarification on Offence Records

The latest notification highlights that “no offence or contravention recorded within any previous one-year period shall impact offences in any following one-year period.” This change intends to streamline how traffic violations are assessed.

Significant Provisions for Disqualification

Previously, there were 24 provisions that could prompt the licensing authority to initiate license disqualification. These included serious offences such as vehicle theft, assault of passengers, and abandoning vehicles in public areas. The addition of five misdemeanours in a year, including failing to wear a helmet or seatbelt and running red lights, is designed to enhance public safety.

Expert Opinions on the New Rules

The introduction of the new provision has garnered mixed reactions from experts in traffic law. Anil Chhikara, a former Deputy Transport Commissioner of Delhi, views the five-offence threshold as a positive step but expresses concerns about the reliability of capturing dangerous driving behaviors.

Challenges in Traffic Enforcement

According to Chhikara, without a standard operating procedure (SOP) in place, challenges often arise regarding the validity of traffic offences recorded via CCTV. In contrast, Rohit Baluja, an educator for police and transport officers, calls the amendment “draconian” and fundamentally flawed.

Procedures for Traffic Challans

The ministry’s notification also outlines procedures for issuing, managing, and paying traffic fines or challans. Authorized uniformed police officers are empowered to issue challans, and e-challans can be generated automatically. Offenders have 45 days to either pay the fine or contest it; failure to act within this timeframe will be considered acceptance of the violation.

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