Traffic Fines 2025: Penalities And Fines For Violating Traffic Rules In India

Road safety is an important subject to discuss and work on. As they say - speed thrills but kills, and therefore it is important to follow traffic rules to keep yourself and other road users safe. Reckless driving/riding has caused multiple deaths in history. In an effort to curb road accidents and instil stricter discipline among motorists, the government recently announced a significant hike in traffic fines and penalties. The revised fines target serious violations such as driving under the influence of alcohol, overspeeding, signal jumping, and riding without a helmet, with some offences now carrying the risk of imprisonment and license suspension. For repeat offenders, the penalties are even more severe. If you've been taking traffic rules lightly, now's the time to rethink.

Major Traffic Rule Violating Penalties

1. Drunken Driving

Driving under the influence of alcohol is a serious offence. It attracts a fine of Rs 10,000 and/or 6 months in prison for the first offence. Repeat offenders will have to pay Rs 15,000 and may face up to 2 years in prison.

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2. Riding Without a Helmet

A fine that once stood at just Rs 100 is now increased to Rs 1,000, along with license suspension for three months.

3. Seat Belt Violations

Drivers failing to fasten their seat belts will now have to pay Rs 1,000. While seatbelts look like mere passive safety elements in a car, they have proved to be life-saver in numerous accidents to date. No doubt, one should buckle up even on the rear seats of a car.

4. Mobile Phone Use While Driving

Using a mobile phone while driving, is a serious threat. There have multiple incidents reported in the past, where the cause of the accident was distraction from the road, since the driver was using his/her mobile phone. Thus, it attracts a fine of Rs 5,000.

5. Driving Without a Valid License

If caught without a valid driving license, motorists will now have to shell out Rs 5,000. However, a digital copy of the license is accepted through govt applications - DigiLocker and mParivahan.

6. Triple Riding on Two-Wheelers

The fine for triple riding on a bike has been raised to Rs 1,000, highlighting stricter enforcement against overcrowding on two-wheelers.

7. Driving Without Valid Insurance

The penalty for driving an uninsured vehicle is Rs 2,000. Also, it can include 3 months of imprisonment and community service. If repeated, the fine doubles to Rs 4,000.

8. Absence of a Valid Pollution Certificate

Driving without a valid pollution certificate will now cost Rs 10,000, along with a possible 6-month prison sentence and community service.

9. Dangerous Driving and Overspeeding

Reckless driving now comes with a fine of Rs 5,000, making it more expensive to flout safety norms. Similarly, racing or overspeeding on public roads will also invite a Rs 5,000 fine.

10. Blocking Emergency Vehicles

Emergency vehicles have an added right at their arms. They need to be offered way, and failing to make way for emergency vehicles such as ambulances will now cost violators Rs 10,000.

11. Overloading of Vehicles

Truck and commercial vehicle operators need to take note that overloading fines have surged from Rs 20,000. While overloaded vehicles are more prone to accidents, they also impact the lifespan of road infrastructure.

12. Jumping Traffic Signals

Running a red light now attracts a Rs 5,000 fine, instead of the earlier Rs 500.

13. Juvenile Offences (Under 18 Years)

For offences committed by juveniles, the penalty has become much more severe. Instead of a Rs 2,500 fine, there is now a Rs 25,000 fine, three years of imprisonment, cancellation of vehicle registration for a year, and ineligibility for a driving license until the age of 25.

With road accidents on the rise, these tougher penalties aim to reduce violations and encourage safer driving practices. While some may view the new fines as steep, they serve as a strong deterrent against reckless behaviour on the roads.