The Union Cabinet of India has passed the new Motor Vehicle (Amendment) Bill 2016 which proposes some important amendments, with new rules and aims to improve road safety.
The government has increased the fines in order to prevent violations but has made no other changes.
Driving under the influence of alcohol will now attract a fine of Rs. 10,000 from Rs. 2000, while caught without helmet will fetch you a fine of Rs. 1000 and licence will be disqualified for three months.
The bill also proposes a multiplier prescribed by the state for repeated offenders, with penalties not less than one and not more than 10 times the original offence.
The bill will also allow for a facility to get your learning license online, increase the validity of driving licenses.
The new bill proposes to amend 68 out of the 223 sections in the current Motor Vehicle Act.
Proposed Amendments in Various Penalties under Motor Vehicle Amendment Bill – 2016
| Section | Old Provision / Penalty | New Proposed Provision / Minimum Penalties | |
| 177 | General | Rs 100 | Rs 500 |
| New 177A | Rules of road regulation violation | Rs 100 | Rs 500 |
| 178 | Travel without ticket | RS 200 | Rs 500 |
| 179 | Disobedience of orders of authorities | Rs 500 | Rs 2000 |
| 180 | Unautorized use of vehicles without licence | Rs 1000 | Rs 5000 |
| 181 | Driving without licence | Rs 500 | Rs 5000 |
| 182 | Driving despite disqualification | Rs 500 | Rs 10,000 |
| 182 B | Oversize vehicles | New | Rs 5000 |
| 183 | Over speeding | Rs 400 | Rs 1000 for LMVRs 2000 for Medium passenger vehicle |
| 184 | Dangerous driving penalty | Rs 1000 | Upto Rs 5000 |
| 185 | Drunken driving | Rs 2000 | Rs 10,000 |
| 189 | Speeding / Racing | Rs 500 | Rs 5,000 |
| 192 A | Vehicle without permit | upto Rs 5000 | Upto Rs 10,000 |
| 193 | Aggregators (violations of licencing conditions) | New | Rs 25,000 toRs 1,00,000 |
| 194 | Overloading | Rs 2000 andRs 1000 per extra tonne | Rs 20,000 andRs 2000 per extra tonne |
| 194 A | Overloading of passengers | Rs 1000 per extra passenger | |
| 194 B | Seat belt | Rs 100 | Rs 1000 |
| 194 C | Overloading of two wheelers | Rs 100 | Rs 2000, Disqualification for 3 months for licence |
| 194 D | Helmets | Rs 100 | Rs 1000 Disqualification for 3 months for licence |
| 194 E | Not providing way for emergency vehicles | New | Rs 10,000 |
| 196 | Driving Without Insurance | RS 1000 | Rs 2000 |
| 199 | Offences by Juveniles | New | Guardian / owner shall be deemed to be guilty. Rs 25,000 with 3 yrs imprisonment. For Juvenile to be tried under JJ Act. Registration of Motor Vehicle to be cancelled |
| 206 | Power of Officers to impound documents | Suspension of driving licenses u/s 183, 184, 185, 189, 190, 194C, 194D,194E | |
| 210 B | Offences committed by enforcing authorities | Twice the penalty under the relevant section |
