With an estimated population of 70 lakh, Pune is the second-largest city in the state of Maharashtra and one of India’s fastest-growing cities. With population rising every year, Pune much like other crowded cities faces a huge crunch of space with congested roads and traffic a common sight. However, in order to tackle traffic and to ensure an efficient flow of vehicular movement, Pune uses a blend of technology as well as the classic on-field policing system to curb traffic violations and punish offenders. With the city divided into 5 zones for the purpose of effective policing and traffic management, Pune with its comprehensive network of flyovers, roads, ring-roads, expressways etc. witnesses the in and outflow of millions vehicles.
Moreover with a plethora of offices, schools, colleges, industries etc. daily management of traffic is an important aspect of the City’s day to day functioning. As per data available online, Pune Traffic Police issued over 9 lakh challans in 2019-2020 alone after the amendment of the motor vehicle act, showcasing an alarming rise in traffic offences, that can be attributed to the sheer ignorance of the law and a lack of awareness when it comes to traffic rules and regulations. From drunk driving to driving without a valid insurance, there are several traffic rules that one must be aware of to drive safely in and around Pune. Therefore in this article, we have compiled a brief list of common traffic challans, rules and fines, so that you know what not to do the next time you are on the road.
Pune Traffic Rules and Fines: The Governing Act
Talking about the govereining statute, the Motor Vehicle Act 1988 is the central statute that regulates and governs almost every aspect of road transport including penalties and challans for traffic violations. The Motor Vehicle Act, being a central legislation, equally applies to every state across India including Pune and the rest of Maharasthra. In 2019, the Motor Vehicle Act was amended by the central government, enhancing the penalties for almost every offence in a bid to further strengthen the enforcement of the act as well as to reduce traffic violations and fatal accidents across the nation.Traffic regulations, challans, rules, regulations and penalties under the Motor Vehicle Act can be categorised into several heads based on offences related to vehicle maintenance, driving, documentation etc.
Traffic Violations Related to Driving
With almost every major city in India adopting digital means of curbing traffic violations, Pune too has done a great job in curbing traffic violations with the use of the latest technologies such as Over Speed Violation Detection (OSVD) Cameras, AI-infused traffic monitoring, Optical Character Recognition, Automatic Number Plate Recognition Systems, Intelligent Traffic Management System (ITMS) and the good old on-field policing system. With a rise in traffic challans every year, traffic violations are strictly Governed and heavily penalised in Pune with the court issuing summons to those who fail to pay off their challan. Therefore it is important to know the list of common driving-related violations that are commonly penalised in Pune as per the Motor Vehicle Act.
Dangerous Driving
Governed under Section 184 of the Motor Vehicle Act, driving a motor vehicle at high speed or in any manner that is dangerous to the public including the offence of red-light jumping, use of mobile while driving, stop-sign traffic violation, unlawful overtake, wrong side driving will constitute an offence of dangerous driving which is punished with:
- Imprisonment for a term not less than 6 months but which may extend to 1 year (for the first offence) or
- With a fine not less than Rs. 1,000 but which may extend to Rs. 5,000 (for the first offence) or
- With Both (for the first offence)
- Imprisonment that may extend to 2 years (for the second/subsequent offence within 3 years of the first offence) or
- With a fine that may extend to Rs. 10,000 (for the second/subsequent offence within 3 years of the first offence) or
- With Both (for the second/subsequent offence within 3 years of the first offence)
- In addition to the penalty and fine, the offender may also be liable to render community service.
Drunk Driving
Governed under Section 185 of the Motor Vehicle Act, driving under the influence of Alcohol and/or Drugs constitutes the offence of Drunk Driving which is a strict offence that entails a penalty of:
- Imprisonment of up to 6 months (for the first offence) or
- With a fine of Rs. 10,000 (for the first offence) or
- With Both (for the first offence)
- Imprisonment of up to 2 Years (f(for the second/subsequent offence) or
- With a fine of Rs. 10,000 ((for the second/subsequent offence) or
- With Both (for the second/subsequent offence)
With Pune hosting a wide range of pubs, hotels, lounges, restaurants, clubs and even farmhouses that thrive all week round, drinking and driving constitute one of the biggest causes of concern for on-field traffic personnel and a big reason behind fatal accidents and mishaps. Therefore it is always advised to either book a cab or have a chauffeur along every time you plan to go on an outing that involves alcohol.
Overspeeding
Governed under Section 183 of the Motor Vehicle Act, driving or causing a motor vehicle to be driving at speeds exceeding the requisite speed limit is an act of overspeeding which is punished with:
- A fine of Rs. 1,000 to 2,000 in the case of Light Motor Vehicles for the first offence
- A fine of Rs. 2,000 to 4,000 in the case of Medium/Heavy Goods Vehicle or Medium/Heavy Passenger Vehicle for the first offence
- Impounding of License for the second and every subsequent offence
- In addition to the penalty and fine, the offender may also be liable to render community service which was a step added in 2019 to instill a sense of community responsibility in offenders.
As per recent data with the help of the Intellegent Traffic Management System installed on the Mumbai-Pune expressway, Pune Traffic Department issued over 8.5 lakh challans for overspeeding alone.
Driving with Excess Passenger
Governed under Section 194A of the Motor Vehicle Act, driving with more passengers than what the registration certificate of the vehicle specifies constitutes the offence of driving with Excess Passengers which is punished with:
- A fine of Rs. 200 for every excess passenger
Driving Without a Seat Belt
Governed under Section 194B of the Motor Vehicle Act, driving without wearing a seat belt constitutes the offence of driving without a seat belt which is punished with:
- A fine of Rs. 1,000.
Driving in Excess of Permissible Weight Limit
Governed under Section 194 of the Motor Vehicle Act, driving a motor vehicle or causing it to be driven with weight exceeding the permissible weight limit constitutes the offence of driving over the permissible weight limit which is punished with:
- A fine of Rs. 20,000 along with
- A fine of Rs. 2,000 per tonne of excess load
Failure to Give Way to Emergency Vehicles
Governed under Section 194E of the Motor Vehicle Act, whoever fails to give way to an emergency vehicle such as a fire brigade or an ambulance etc. by drawing their motor vehicle to the side of the road constitutes the offence of failure to give way to an emergency vehicle which is punished with:
- Imprisonment of up to 6 months or
- A fine of Rs. 10,000 or
- Both
Violating Traffic Rules
Governed under Section 177A of the Motor Vehicle Act, traffic violation of any road regulation shall constitute an offence of volition traffic rules which is punished with:
- A fine of Rs. 500 to 1,000
Traffic Violations Related to Documentation
When it comes to a safe drive, following traffic rules isn’t enough. The possession of all legal documents, permits, licenses, insurance etc is a crucial aspect when it comes to driving lawfully on public roads. Any traffic violation related to the possession of such documents is also an offence under the Motor Vehicle Act attracting various penalties. Therefore it is crucial to know the repercussions of not possessing relevant documents while driving and a list of related challenges that might follow:
Using a Vehicle without Registration
Governed under Section 192 of the Motor Vehicle Act, driving a motor vehicle without registration constitutes an offence of using a vehicle without registration which is punished with
- A fine of Rs. 2,000 to 5,000 (for the first offence)
- A fine of Rs. 5,000 to 10,000 (for the second/subsequent offence) or
- Imprisonment of up to 1 year (for the second/subsequent offence) or
- With Both (for the second/subsequent offence)
Using a Vehicle without a Permit
Governed under Section 192A of the Motor Vehicle Act, driving a motor vehicle without a valid and requisite permit constitutes an offence of using a vehicle without a permit which is punished with
- Imprisonment of up to 6 months (for the first offence) or
- A fine of Rs. 10,000 (for the first offence)
- Imprisonment of 6 months which may extend to up to 1 year (for the second/subsequent offence) or
- A fine of Rs. 10,000 (for the second/subsequent offence) or
- With Both (for the second/subsequent offence)
Driving without a Valid Driving License
Governed under Section 181 of the Motor Vehicle Act, driving without a valid driving license, or underage driving in contravention of the driving license requirements constitutes ano fence of driving without a License which is punished with:
- Imprisonment of up to 3 months or
- A Fine of Rs. 5,000 or
- Both
- In addition to the penalty and fine, the offender may also be liable to render community service.
Driving Uninsured Vehicle
Governed under Section 196 of the Motor Vehicle Act, driving a motor vehicle without a valid insurance certificate constitutes an offence of using a vehicle without insurance which is punished with:
- Imprisonment of up to 3 months (for the first offence) or
- A fine of Rs. 2,000 (for the first offence) or
- With Both (for the first offence)
- Imprisonment of up to 3 months (for the second/subsequent offence) or
- A fine of Rs. 4,000 (for the second/subsequent offence) or
- With Both (for the second/subsequent offence)
Driving Without a Valid Pollution Certificate
Governed under Section 190(2) of the Motor Vehicle Act, driving without a valid pollution certificate constitutes an offence of driving without a valid PUC which is punished with:
- A fine of Rs. 1,000 (for the first offence) or
- A fine of Rs. 2,000 (for the second/subsequent offence)
How to Check and Pay Traffic Challan in Pune
With the use of technologies such as OSVD Cameras, Traffic Violation Detection Cameras, Speed Guns, Interceptors etc traffic violation detection and challan issuance has increased manifolds with a majority of challans in Pune now being issued virtually. Therefore it is also important to know how to check for a virtual challan online. Here are the steps to check the virtual challan in Pune:
- Step 1: Visit the official M-Parivahan website.
- Step 2: Choose the e-Challan System
- Step 3: Click on ‘Get Challan Details’
- Step 4: Pick the most suited option to get challan details for your vehicle. You can choose between Vehicle Number, DL Number or Challan Number to get all the challan details.
- Step 5: Depending upon the selected option, enter the details and click ‘Get Detail’
- Step 6: The details of all your issued and pending challan will be shown. Verify all information and click ‘Pay Now’.
- Step 7: Select your preferred payment option to make the payment.
- Step 8: Upon completion of the payment, an acknowledgement will be provided with the transaction ID for future reference.
FAQ’s
Q. What happens if I fail to pay my traffic challan in Pune on time?
If you fail to pay your traffic challan within the stipulated time, the Pune Traffic Police may take strict action. This could include:
– Additional penalties or late fees.
– Summons issued by the court.
– Suspension of your driving license for repeated violations.
– Vehicle seizure in extreme cases.Q. Can I dispute a wrongly issued e-challan in Pune?
Yes, if you believe a traffic challan has been wrongly issued, you can dispute it by:
– Visiting the Pune Traffic Police website and filing a complaint.
– Submitting necessary proof (CCTV footage, GPS records, etc.) at the nearest traffic police station.
– Attending a traffic court hearing if required.Q. Are there any discounts available for paying Pune traffic challans?
Pune Traffic Police occasionally announces one-time settlement schemes or discounts for clearing old pending challans. However, there is no regular discount policy. It’s best to check the official M-Parivahan or Pune Traffic Police website for any such updates.
Q. How does Pune’s AI-based traffic monitoring system work?
Pune has integrated advanced AI-infused traffic monitoring systems, including:
– Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR): Captures and reads license plates to identify violators.
– Over Speed Violation Detection (OSVD) Cameras: Detects speeding vehicles in real-time.
– Red Light Violation Detection: Tracks vehicles that jump traffic signals.
– Facial Recognition Cameras: Used in some areas to identify repeat offenders.Q. Can my license be suspended for repeated traffic violations in Pune?
Yes, under the Motor Vehicle Act, your driving license can be suspended for three months if you commit repeated offences like:
– Drunk driving.
– Dangerous driving or over speeding multiple times.
– Driving without a valid license or insurance.
– Failing to pay multiple pending challans.
