Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019

The Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 was enacted with a view to consolidate and amend the laws relating to motor vehicles. The Act was enacted to give effect to the suggestions made by the Supreme Court in M.K. Kunhimohammed Vs. P.A. Ahmedkutty. The Act was amended several times to adapt to the technological upgradation emerging in road transport, passenger and freight movement and in motor vehicle management.

However, with rapidly increasing motorisation, India is facing an increasing burden of road traffic injuries and fatalities. The emotional and social trauma caused to the family which loses its bread winner, cannot be quantified. India is signatory to the Brasilia Declaration and is committed to reduce the number of road accident fatality by fifty percent by the year 2020. The road transport sector also plays a major role in the economy of the country. So, in order to improve road safety and transport system, Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019 has been enacted.

The Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019 alongwith other provisions has provided for steeper penalties and fine for violating any traffic rule. The detail of major offences under the Act alongwith the respective old/new penalty has been provided herewith.

Section	Offence	Old Penalty	New Penalty
177	For Contravention of any provision of Act, where no penalty has been provided	For first offence: Rs 100 For second and subsequent offences: Rs. 300	Rs. 500 Rs. 1,500
177A	Contravention of Road Regulations issued under Section 118	Rs. 100	Rs. 500 up to Rs. 1,000
178	Travelling without a ticket	Rs. 200	Rs. 500
179	Disobedience of orders of authorities	Rs. 500	Rs. 2,000
180	Unauthorized use of vehicles without licence	Rs. 1,000	Rs. 5,000
181	Driving without licence	Rs. 500	Rs. 5,000
182	Driving without qualification	Rs. 500	Rs. 10,000
182B	Oversized vehicles	New	Rs. 5,000 up to Rs. 10,000
183	Over speeding	Rs. 400	Rs. 1,000 up to Rs. 2,000 for LMV Rs. 2,000 up to Rs. Rs. 4,000 for Medium Passenger Vehicle/Medium Goods Vehicle/ Heavy Goods Vehicle/ Heavy Passenger Vehicle
184	Dangerous driving penalty	Rs. 1,000	Rs. 1,000 up to Rs. 5,000 and/or 6 months to 1 year of imprisonment
185	Drunken driving	For first offence: Rs. 2,000 For subsequent offences: Rs. 3,000	Rs. 10,000 Rs. 15,000
186	Driving when mentally or physically unfit to drive	For first offence: Rs. 200 For subsequent offence: Rs. 500	Rs. 1,000 Rs. 2,000
189	Speeding/ Racing	Rs. 500	Rs. 5,000
192A	Vehicle without permit	Upto Rs. 5,000	Upto Rs. 10,000
193	Aggregators (violations of licencing conditions)	New	Rs 25,000 to Rs 1,00,000
194	Overloading	Rs. 2,000 and Rs 1,000 per extra tonne	Rs. 20,000 and Rs. 2,000 per extra tonne
194A	Overloading of Passengers	N.A.	Rs 200 per extra passenger
194B	Seat Belt	Rs. 100	Rs. 1,000
194C	Overloading of two-wheelers	Rs. 100	Rs. 1,000 Disqualified for holding licence for a period of 3 months
194D	Helmets	Rs. 100	Rs. 1,000 Disqualified for holding licence for a period of 3 months
194E	Not providing way for emergency vehicles	New	Rs 10,000 and/or Imprisonment for 6 months
196	Driving without insurance	Rs 1,000	For first offence: Rs. 2,000 and/or Imprisonment for 3 months For subsequent Offence: Rs. 4,000 and/or Imprisonment for 3 months
199	Offences by Juveniles	New	Guardian/ Owner shall be deemed guilty. Rs 25,000 with 3 years imprisonment. Juvenile to be tried under JJ Act. Registration of Motor Vehicle to be cancelled.
206	Power of officers to impound documents	N.A.	Suspension of driving licence under Sections 183, 184, 185, 189, 190, 194C, 194D, 194E,
210B	Offences committed by enforcing authorities	N.A.	Twice the penalty under the relevant section