AskBNS
India's laws, searchable

Traffic fines in India

Fines and penalties under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, as amended, for 28 common offences. Each amount is from the words of the Act, quoted under it.

States can raise these: section 210A lets a State multiply any fine by up to ten, and section 200 lets it set the amount to pay on the spot (compounding). Your challan may show your State's figure. Check your State's notification or the challan itself.

Riding without a helmet

First offence₹1,000 + licence disqualified for 3 months
The law says · MV Act Section 194D
“…shall be [liable for a penalty] of one thousand rupees and he shall be disqualified for holding licence for a period of three months…”

Triple riding or other two-wheeler safety rules

First offence₹1,000 + licence disqualified for 3 months
The law says · MV Act Section 194C
“…shall be [liable for a penalty] of one thousand rupees and he shall be disqualified for holding licence for a period of three months…”

Not wearing a seat belt (or passengers without one)

First offence₹1,000
The law says · MV Act Section 194B
“…Whoever drives a motor vehicle without wearing a safety belt or carries passengers not wearing seat belts shall be [liable for a penalty] of one thousand rupees…”

Child under 14 not secured by a seat belt or child seat

First offence₹1,000
The law says · MV Act Section 194B
“…is not secured by a safety belt or a child restraint system shall be [liable for a penalty] of one thousand rupees…”

Drunk driving (alcohol above 30 mg per 100 ml of blood) or driving on drugs

First offence₹10,000 and/or up to 6 months in jail
Again₹15,000 and/or up to 2 years in jail
The law says · MV Act Section 185
“…for the first offence with imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine [of ten thousand rupees], or with both…”
“…for a second or subsequent offence, * * * with imprisonment for term which may extend to two years, or with fine [of fifteen thousand rupees], or with both…”

Driving without a valid licence (or under age)

First offence₹5,000 and/or up to 3 months in jail
The law says · MV Act Section 181
“…shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three months, or with fine [of five thousand rupees], or with both…”

Letting someone without a licence drive your vehicle

First offence₹5,000 and/or up to 3 months in jail
The law says · MV Act Section 180
“…shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three months, or with fine [of five thousand rupees], or with both…”

Driving while disqualified from holding a licence

First offence₹10,000 and/or up to 3 months in jail
The law says · MV Act Section 182
“…shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three months, or with fine [of ten thousand rupees] or with both…”

A minor (under 18) drives: the guardian or owner is liable

First offence₹25,000 and up to 3 years in jail for the guardian or owner
AlsoThe vehicle's registration is cancelled for 12 months
AlsoThe minor can't get a licence until 25
The law says · MV Act Section 199A
“…shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years and with a fine of twenty-five thousand rupees…”
“…shall be cancelled for a period of twelve months…”
“…until such juvenile has attained the age of twenty-five years…”

Overspeeding (car or other light motor vehicle)

First offence₹1,000 to ₹2,000
AlsoA second offence: licence impounded
The law says · MV Act Section 183
“…where such motor vehicle is a light motor vehicle with fine which shall not be less than one thousand rupees but may extend to two thousand rupees…”
“…for the second or any subsequent offence under this sub-section the driving licence of such driver shall be impounded…”

Overspeeding (bus, truck or other medium/heavy vehicle)

First offence₹2,000 to ₹4,000
The law says · MV Act Section 183
“…with fine which shall not be less than two thousand rupees, but may extend to four thousand rupees…”

Dangerous driving: jumping a red light, using a phone, wrong-side driving

First offence₹1,000 to ₹5,000, or 6 months to 1 year in jail, or both
Again₹10,000 and/or up to 2 years in jail (within 3 years)
The law says · MV Act Section 184
“…which may extend to one year but shall not be less than six months or with fine which shall not be less than one thousand rupees but may extend to five thousand rupees, or with both…”
“…for any second or subsequent offence if committed within three years of the commission of a previous similar offence with imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine [of ten thousand rupees], or with both…”

Racing or speed trials on public roads

First offence₹5,000 and/or up to 3 months in jail
Again₹10,000 and/or up to 1 year in jail
The law says · MV Act Section 189
“…shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to [three months], or with fine [of five thousand rupees], or with both…”
“…for a subsequent offence shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year, or with fine of ten thousand rupees; or with both…”

Not making way for an ambulance or fire engine

First offence₹10,000
AgainUp to ₹10,000 and/or up to 6 months in jail
The law says · MV Act Section 194E
“…shall be liable for penalty of ten thousand rupees for first offence…”
“…for any second or subsequent offence with imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine which may extend to ten thousand rupees or with both…”

Needless honking, or honking in a no-horn zone

First offenceA recorded warning
Again₹1,000 to ₹2,000
The law says · MV Act Section 194F
“…shall for the first contravention be issued a warning…”
“…for any second or subsequent contravention shall be liable to penalty which shall not be less than one thousand rupees, but may extend to two thousand rupees…”

Driving without insurance

First offence₹5,000 or 3 times the base premium, whichever is higher
Again₹10,000 or 5 times the base premium, whichever is higher
The law says · MV Act Section 196
“…liable for the first contravention with penalty of three times the base premium for such vehicle specified under sub-section (2) of section 147 or five thousand rupees, whichever is higher…”
“…for a subsequent contravention shall be liable to penalty of five times the base premium for such vehicle as specified under sub-section (2) of section 147 or ten thousand rupees, whichever is higher…”

Driving an unregistered vehicle

First offence₹2,000 to ₹5,000
Again₹5,000 to ₹10,000 and/or up to 1 year in jail
The law says · MV Act Section 192
“…liable for the first offence with a penalty which may extend] to five thousand rupees but shall not be less than two thousand rupees…”
“…for a second or subsequent offence with imprisonment which may extend to one year or with fine which may extend to ten thousand rupees but shall not be less than five thousand rupees or with both…”

Using a transport vehicle without a permit

First offence₹10,000
Again₹20,000
The law says · MV Act Section 192A
“…liable to penalty of ten thousand rupees…”
“…for any subsequent contravention with penalty of twenty thousand rupees…”

Overloading a goods vehicle

First offence₹20,000 + ₹2,000 per tonne of excess load
The law says · MV Act Section 194
“…of twenty thousand rupees and an [additional penalty] of two thousand rupees per tonne of excess load…”

Carrying excess passengers in a transport vehicle

First offence₹200 per excess passenger
The law says · MV Act Section 194A
“…of two hundred rupees per excess passenger…”

Driving a vehicle in unsafe condition

First offence₹5,000
The law says · MV Act Section 190
“…shall be liable for penalty of five thousand rupees…”

Breaking road-safety or pollution standards (e.g. no valid PUC)

First offenceUp to ₹10,000 + licence disqualified for 3 months
The law says · MV Act Section 190
“…shall be liable for the first contravention with penalty which may extend to ten thousand rupees and he shall be disqualified for holding licence for a period of three months…”

Not helping or reporting after an accident (duty of driver)

First offence₹5,000 and/or up to 6 months in jail
Again₹10,000 and/or up to 1 year in jail
The law says · MV Act Section 187
“…shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to [six months], or with fine [of five thousand rupees], or with both…”
“…with imprisonment for a term which may extend to [one year], or with fine [of ten thousand rupees], or with both…”

Driving when you know you're medically unfit

First offenceUp to ₹1,000
AgainUp to ₹2,000
The law says · MV Act Section 186
“…liable for the first contravention with penalty] which may extend to [one thousand rupees]…”
“…subsequent contravention with penalty] which may extend to [two thousand rupees]…”

Parking that blocks traffic

First offenceUp to ₹500, plus towing charges
The law says · MV Act Section 201
“…shall be liable for penalty up to [five hundred rupees], so long as it remains in that position…”

Disobeying a traffic officer's lawful direction

First offenceUp to ₹2,000
The law says · MV Act Section 179
“…shall, if no other penalty is provided for the offence be [liable to penalty] which may extend to [two thousand rupees]…”

Travelling in a bus without a ticket

First offenceUp to ₹500
The law says · MV Act Section 178
“…shall be [liable for a penalty] which may extend to five hundred rupees…”

Any other offence with no specific penalty

First offenceA recorded warning
Again₹500 to ₹1,500
The law says · MV Act Section 177
“…for the first contravention be issued a warning…”
“…for any second or subsequent contravention with penalty which shall not be less than five hundred rupees, but may extend to one thousand and five hundred rupees…”