Bhubaneswar: With the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act 2019 coming into effect on September 1, the Traffic Police of several cities including Cuttack and Bhubaneswar have pulled up their socks to stringently enforce the new rules leaving little breathing space for violators.
Even as the decision to implement the new rules has been welcomed by the public, several instances of police levying hefty fines on motorists for violating traffic norms have now caused worries in the minds of people.
However, the Transport department has allayed fears and said during checking if one is not in possession of documents like- driving license, registration certificate, fitness certificate, permit or any other and gets penalized, then s/he can produce the same later in the RTO office or traffic police station and get refund for the penalty that they have paid.
Speaking to OTV, Regional Transport Officer (RTO), Bhubaneswar (Zone II) Sanjay Behera informed, “If one could not produce the documents on the spot and furnishes the same in the RTO or traffic police station, s/he will get the penalty money back, but Rs 500 to Rs 1,000 will be deducted.”
“However, vehicle owners can download and save their documents in mobile apps like Digilocker and mParivahan and can show it during checking by the police. There is no need to produce hard copy of the documents,” added Behera.
Further explaining Behera said, “A family of three persons including a couple and their child between 4 to 12 years of age can ride on a two-wheeler but the pillion riders will have to wear helmets. However, more than three persons despite being the members of the same family cannot travel on a two-wheeler vehicle.”
Twin City Police Commissioner Sudhansu Sarangi said, "We don't like collecting fines from people because the main objective behind the drive to tighten new traffic rules is not levying penalties for revenue but make people aware that they should abide by the rules. Initially, it will be a bit harsher but once people understand they will realize the benefits from the move."
Transport ministers of both the State government and the Centre have clarified that heftier fines are being collected from the people to create awareness about the safety and security of people to put a curb on the tremendous rise in the road fatalities.