It is understood that the amended Motor Vehicles Act with revised fines is likely to be implemented in the state from October 1. However, the execution might be delayed as the state is reeling under the Covid-19 crisis.
The state had recently published a notification in the official gazette maintaining the original notification of the Motor Vehicles Act passed by the centre without reducing the quantum of fines except for some minor changes made in the penalty relating to minor offences.
It is pertinent to note that under the amended Motor Vehicle Act vehicular drivers will have to pay a hefty fine for traffic violations, like not giving way to an ambulance or a fire-brigade will attract a fine of Rs. 10,000. A new section 199 A has been introduced according to which if a juvenile is caught driving a vehicle, his guardian and the owner of the vehicle would be deemed guilty and would have to pay a steep fine of Rs 25,000 with imprisonment of up to three years and the registration of the vehicle will also be cancelled.
Given the number of accidents involving juveniles driving the vehicle many of which have ended in fatality in which young lives have been lost, this punishment for the guardian and the owner of the vehicle appears to be a step in the right direction.
ADELMO FERNANDES, Vasco
