Driving without a valid licence is a punishable offence in India. If you own a bike or a car in Lucknow, you must have a driving license to operate on the roads. In case you don’t have it, you can be fined or jailed according to the situation. The penalties are also applicable in case your driving license has expired.
These penalties vary from one state to another. Therefore, if you live in Lucknow or plan to visit this place, you must know the consequences of driving without a valid licence challan in Lucknow. More details on the applicable fines for driving without a DL and punitive actions taken by the government against the driver are provided in the sections.
Table of Contents
What is a Licence Challan?
A licence challan is an official document issued against the driver for violating a traffic rule. It contains details such as the type of traffic violation, vehicle number, issued date, penalty amount, etc.
In Lucknow, you must carry all the important documents while driving a vehicle. These documents include a driving licence, Registration Certificate (RC), insurance, and Pollution Under Control (PUC) Certificate.
Not having even one of these documents will lead to a challan issued against your vehicle. Driving with an expired, invalid, or fake driving license is also punishable according to the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.
Apart from this, not wearing a seatbelt (helmet in case of a two-wheeler), violating traffic signal rules, rash driving, overspeeding, and other traffic violations also lead to the issuance of a licence challan. Therefore, as a responsible citizen, you must adhere to all the driving rules while driving in Lucknow. It is not only important for your safety but for the safety of others as well.
What is the Fine for Driving without a License Challan in Lucknow?
Initially, the fine for driving without a valid licence was Rs. 500 across the country. However, the rules have become more stringent after the implementation of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. Also, the fee or fine for driving without a valid DL varies from one state to another. As Lucknow is in Uttar Pradesh, you’ll be fined as per the fines imposed by the Uttar Pradesh Traffic Police. The table sheds some insights into this matter:
| Offence | Fine |
| First-time offender | Rs. 5000 |
| Repeat offender | Rs. 10,000 |
If the driver keeps repeating the same offence multiple times, the RTO also reserves the right to impound the vehicle or file criminal cases against the offender. The driver will also have to pay a higher insurance premium in the future due to this.
How to Pay a Challan for Driving without a License in Lucknow?
Any traffic rule violation will lead to the generation of a challan against the driver. The installation of CCTV cameras and speed guns in cities and highways also results in the generation of e-challans nowadays. Therefore, you must also be aware of how to clear an e-challan by paying against the same. The steps guide you on paying a challan for driving without a licence in Lucknow:
- Offline Payment
In most cases, the traffic police issue the challan using the challan machine on the spot. You can pay the challan using your mobile payment app through UPI or by scanning the QR code reflected in the machine.
Payment through debit card or credit card is also allowed these days. Cash payment is mostly not allowed these days. However, if you don’t have any of the aforementioned payment methods, you can request the officer to collect the fine via cash.
- Online Payment
Online payment of e-Challan is fairly easy, especially if you have a smartphone and a working internet connection. You just have to visit the Parivahan site of the government and follow these steps:
- Step 1: After visiting the eParivahan site, you will find an option saying ‘Check Challan Status’. Click on the link and proceed as per the steps.
- Step 2: A page will open after clicking on the link. Provide your challan number, or if you don’t have it, you can simply submit your vehicle number.
- Step 3: The pending challan against the vehicle will be reflected upon entering your vehicle number. View the challans one by one and start paying against them.
- Step 4: The payment can be made via net banking, UPI, credit or debit cards. Once the payment reflects as successful, you can download the receipt for future reference.
You can also view the e-Challans via the Spinny app or website now. Just enter your vehicle number and check the pending challan against it. You can then select the challans you want to pay against and then pay for all of them at once. Multiple payment options such as net banking, UPI, and credit/debit cards are allowed here.
The challans need to be cleared within 90 days of issuance. In case the driver does not pay the challan, a court summons can be issued against his name. The summons will be issued against the name of the vehicle owner. Therefore, always be careful while lending your car to your friends and relatives.
How to avoid getting a Challan for Driving without a Licence in Lucknow?
Here’s how you can avoid getting a challan for driving without a DL in Lucknow:
- Checking the Validity of the Licence
Driving with an expired licence is also punishable. Therefore, you must renew your license and keep checking its validity regularly to renew it before it lapses. This will save you from unnecessary fines and help you to avoid getting a challan for driving without a licence in Lucknow.
- Get a Licence Applicable to Your Vehicle
You cannot drive a commercial vehicle with a driving license of a private vehicle. Similarly, you cannot drive a truck with a licence issued for light motor vehicles. Therefore, you must drive only the vehicle against which the license is issued under your name.
- Carry All the Documents
Carry all the documents, such as RC, insurance, and driving licence while driving your vehicle. If you don’t have physical documents, at least carry the virtual copies for the same. Also, ensure that you have valid insurance while driving a car. In case the insurance has expired, get it renewed immediately to avoid the penalty.
- Adhere to the Traffic Rules Responsibly
First, you must know about all the traffic rules, especially those that lead to heavy traffic fines. After that, you must acquire all the knowledge on how to follow them. If you haven’t learnt how to drive yet, join a driving class and get all the information on traffic rules and signals.
Also, the traffic rules tend to change slightly in different states and union territories from time-to-time. You must stay updated about these rules and follow them to avoid getting fined by the traffic inspector.
Conclusion
We hope you have understood why it is important to drive with a valid driving licence in Lucknow. Driving without a licence is a serious offence and can lead to heavy traffic fines. Therefore, renewing it regularly and using the right licence according to your vehicle type is a must. After acquiring a valid DL, follow all the traffic rules and drive safely in Lucknow. Also, get updated on how to clear e-challans online to avoid any issues in the future.
FAQs
Q. Can driving without a valid driving licence in Lucknow lead to imprisonment?
Yes, repeat offenders are often sentenced to jail for up to 3 months. Other punitive actions, such as vehicle seizure, court summons, higher fines, etc., are also possible if you are a repeat offender.
Q. Is online payment of the challan allowed in Lucknow?
Yes, you can clear the challan online by using the eParivahan site. You can also download mobile apps like Spinny to check and clear the e-challans pending against your vehicle.
Q. What is the fine for driving without a valid licence in Lucknow?
A penalty of Rs. 5000 can be issued if you drive without a valid driving licence in Lucknow. If you are a repeat offender, the fine can be as high as Rs. 10,000.
Q. What is the validity of a commercial vehicle license in Lucknow?
Commercial licences are valid for 5 years from the date of issuance. For private vehicles, the licence remains valid for 20 years or until the driver becomes 50 years old (whichever comes first).
Q. Can I challenge a traffic challan in Lucknow?
Yes, you may challenge a traffic challan if you think that it is wrongly imposed. You must get the necessary proof or evidence and submit it before the court to establish that you are not eligible for the fine.
