Hry puts brakes on traffic fines; Punjab, HP defer new rules

CHANDIGARH: The BJP-ruled Haryana, which was on a spree on imposing fines to motorists for road safety violations, has decided to focus on educating the violators rather than imposing penalties till Sunday, while its neighbouring Congress-ruled Punjab and BJP-ruled Himachal Pradesh have deferred the new traffic rules for the time being.

To prevent road accidents, traffic constables of the Punjab Police are on a mission these days -- to repair potholes on roads of Bathinda, the hometown of Union Minister Food Processing Industries Harsimrat Kaur Badal.

On Friday, the Haryana Police launched a state-wide awareness drive about the amended Motor Vehicles Act (MVA), 2019 that came into effect on September 1.

Haryana director general of police Manoj Yadav said as part of the campaign, all police officials were directed to focus on spreading awareness about the increased fines.

During the campaign, the emphasis would be on education and awareness of the general public rather than penalising violators, he said.Those found violating traffic rules would be motivated to comply with traffic laws in future and be given one time warning, he said.

For the sensitization drive, college students and eminent people would be involved on a voluntary basis to assist the police about the changes under the amended Act, Yadav said.

Haryana, which was among the first states to implement stricter penalties for traffic violations, has collected fines of ₹52.32 lakh, with nearly ₹10 lakh from just Gurugram, in just four days from September 1.

Mukul, a scooterist, was fined ₹16,000 in Kaithal town for not carrying documents of his vehicle. Another scooter rider Dinesh Madan was fined ₹23,000 by the Gurugram traffic police for multiple traffic violations. He was not carrying documents and the pollution certificate and was not wearing the helmet.In another case, jumping the traffic light proved extremely expensive for an auto driver in Gurugram’s Sikanderpur area. He was fined ₹32,500. Punjab transport minister Razia Sultana said for the time being the provisions of the amended MVA would not be applicable in the state.

Himachal principal secretary (transport) JC Sharma said the amended MVA is under the consideration of government. IANS