[Joy]

Originally Posted by Visaster

Who has such kind of time at hand to run around to get things done in our ridiculous system
In a regular government office if they have to do something against their will it will minimum of 2 day for your paper to move from one table to other
.....

True, in today's scenario but when the stakes are higher, one is bound to react. Today, one is not bothered that much just because the fine is low. But now that the fine is increased five fold, I believe more and more people will protest if they are charged wrongly. How many of us can afford take a false charge of say Rs. 5000/- every now and then?

In another reply to Irwin, you have quoted,

If the cop is crooked he can do as much as impounding your vehicle on a false case.

In that case, will you just sit back and watch or fight back regardless of our (ridiculous) system and pathetic work culture.

[scopriobharath]

If Speaking on a BT phone is not in compliance with the MV Act, Why is this being offered by the companies ?

If this is for the passenger, I feel that using a good quality handsfree should do the trick or heck at the very least, use it the convetional way. It is also a privacy factor that when I am being chauffered, the driver would be able to hear both sides of the conversation.

Secondly, What is the need for giving steering controls if the BT system is for the passenger. the passenger would be more comfotable to directly press a button either on the Fascia (Front seated person) or some switch that could be configured near the rear seat rather than requesting a driver to do so.

[drmohitg]

Originally Posted by scopriobharath

If Speaking on a BT phone is not in compliance with the MV Act, Why is this being offered by the companies ?

+1. Although I have always felt BT should be allowed. But you have a valid point. But then one can also use BT for listening to music right? I always use that feature.

One thing I havent understood is how are they going to ascertain if its your first offence or otherwise? Atleast in bangalore cops have got blackberry phones. I haven't seen anything like that in Delhi.

[simplyself]

Originally Posted by Visaster

No ways you should be allowed to smoke while you drive, its equally distracting as speaking over phone and it a nuisance.
Throwing not only ash, anything.
But who is going to monitor that?

I beg to differ. It is not at all distracting. Throwing ash or anything out may be but smoking is not distracting to the driver.

[Klub Class]

Originally Posted by selfdrive

Tweak the % numbers a bit and use it as a big cane to deter traffic offences.

But then your suggestion has some serious flaws IMHO. ie, person should pay higher amount as fine if he choose to buy a pre-worshipped car over a brand new vehicle!

Then, since we're taking the OTR price as the reference, how can we ensure the same amount for an offense pan India? How do you account for the price hike/drop resulting in the variation of OTR price?

All in all, the pre-worshipped guys over here and myself will NOT approve your suggestion.

[ghostrider]

Originally Posted by selfdrive

I am sure I have said this before, maybe on this thread or elsewhere on the forum. The key objective should be to keep fines at a range outside of cheap affordability. Make the fines a % of vehicle OTR cost.
With current rules, a guy in a 20L SUV will pay the same fine as another 'breaking' the same rule using say a 40K bike. Most probably the SUV owner is likely to brush the fine off as minor expense. If it were say 1% of vehicle OTR cost for 2 wheelers and 0.5% for 4 wheelers, the biker here would pay 400 bucks and the SUV guy would pay 10K. Would that be enough of a deterrent?
Tweak the % numbers a bit and use it as a big cane to deter traffic offences. After all the point of traffic fines is to act as a deterrent and not as income generation. We have other taxes for the latter

Not a fan of this at all because it smacks almost of communism (or socialism at the very least). You're punishing someone for being more successful. I don't drive a 20L SUV but I believe that the quantum of the fine should be directly proportionate to the seriousness of the offence with multipliers for repeat offenders. That's it.... no more, no less.

There will always be people to whom a 5,000 rupee fine is not a big deal but the simple fact of the matter is that more than 99% of the driving general population is middle class so this system will be fairly uniform in how much it hurts people to pay the upgraded fines.

[contactme27]

These laws will become a big harassment for passenger cars during night drive in the highways. Cops harassment will be a torture to bear and this big amount will be a huge dent in the pockets. I understand that these are good to maintain the traffic safety but with a fool proof techniques to prove that driver made a serious mistake.

[scopriobharath]

Originally Posted by ghostrider

There will always be people to whom a 5,000 rupee fine is not a big deal but the simple fact of the matter is that more than 99% of the driving general population is middle class so this system will be fairly uniform in how much it hurts people to pay the upgraded fines.

Fines IMHO must be proportional to the Car price. 5000/- would hurt a 2-wheeler offender, but is peanuts for an LC200 owner or even an Audi owner.

Fines should be something like

2W / 3W - 5000/-
Nano/alto/santro/figo et all - 8000/-
5L-10lacs cars - 12000/-
10-20lacs cars - 17000/-
TFORT / X1 / Captiva - 25000/-
and so on

This would ensure that the Fine really "pinches" the pocket and there should be stringent punishments like Non-Bailable arrests for repeated offence, seizing the license, suspending license for periods like one year etc would really help to be a detterent.

[selfdrive]

Originally Posted by ghostrider

Not a fan of this at all because it smacks almost of communism (or socialism at the very least). You're punishing someone for being more successful. I don't drive a 20L SUV but I believe that the quantum of the fine should be directly proportionate to the seriousness of the offence with multipliers for repeat offenders. That's it.... no more, no less.

Works on a different level too buddy! Especially in towns with one way streets that are narrow enough before all the parking around it and pedestrians taking up road carriage width because vendors occupy the pavements...
if a bigger vehicle driver makes a traffic offence he/ she inconveniences more traffic than a biker would.
Other than that, I would say its different sticks for different people. If it acts as a deterrent, why would anyone care if its socialism or not? The idea is that people should think 100 times before inconveniencing or jeopardising others on the road.

[normally_crazy]

These kinds of increase in fines will only empower the cops for bargaining on much better money for themselves. The only way the govt will know that these fines have worked will depend on the data of the collection of fines versus the traffic violaters hauled up by the cops.

But then who will monitor this activity ?

[INNOWAGON_CL]

Paying fines comes next. What is essential is road user education which is absent in schools and colleges and hence the increasing road accidents in our country.

Jay walking by pedestrians should also be punished severely. A fine of Rs. 100/- is very less under the Police Act.

Jaywalkers pose a risk to both themselves as well as the motorists.

Education about road use is necessary for both motorists and pedestrians.

Some of the key points for pedestrians are:

"- When there are subways connecting the roads, pedestrians must make use of those and avoid crossing the roads.
- Jay walking leads to obstruction of vehicular traffic.
- Never cross a road at a corner, as the motorist taking the turn will not be able to see you on time.
- Running across the road is a bad idea, as the pedestrain may slip and fall.
- Always walk on the footpath, they are meant for the pedestrian.
- Where there is no footpath, walk in the right side margin of the road so that the pedestrian can see the traffic coming in the opposite direction.
- Cross roads where there are pedestrian crossings."

Motorists should also follow road rules:
Every driver must be conversant with the provisions of Sections 112, 113, 121, 122, 125, 132, 134, 185, 186, 194, 207 of the Motor Vehicle Act, 1988.
For example,
• Stick to the given speed limit and remember that speed limit is related to the traffic condition.
• Do not drive in a zig-zag manner.
• Use your horn sparingly and only to remind others of your presence.

[fast&furious]

Originally Posted by scopriobharath

Fines IMHO must be proportional to the Car price. 5000/- would hurt a 2-wheeler offender, but is peanuts for an LC200 owner or even an Audi owner.

Fines should be something like

2W / 3W - 5000/-
Nano/alto/santro/figo et all - 8000/-
5L-10lacs cars - 12000/-
10-20lacs cars - 17000/-
TFORT / X1 / Captiva - 25000/-
and so on

This would ensure that the Fine really "pinches" the pocket and there should be stringent punishments like Non-Bailable arrests for repeated offence, seizing the license, suspending license for periods like one year etc would really help to be a detterent.

You talk as if earning money from business is something soo easy and since they have plenty of money they will just throw it away. It's not easy at all and businessmen generally don't waste a single paisa because they understand its value more than the others. They spend a lot of money but they rarely waste it (there are exceptions) and who wants to be on the wrong side of the law?! Ambani has plenty of money. So is he gonna start breaking the rules because the fines are too low?
And in front of the law, everyone is equal. So I don't think what you suggested is going to happen.

[Zed]

@ scopriobharath

Given the socio-econmic conditions in India - this may be a really good idea. Fines proportional to the cost of vehicles. Perhaps as a % of on-road price of vehicle being penalized. All thats required to enforce such a legislation, if passed, is the value of the car ( I assume the obligatory set of documents present in the car will have this info) and a calculator.

[fast&furious]

Those kinda fine structure will not bring down the no. of traffic offences but will only discourage people from buying costly cars.
The Govt.'s primary duty is the welfare of the people not milking people.
In my humble opinion, the fines should be based on the magnitude and frequency of the offence. It's actually that way now. Careless people are more likely to repeat the same offence and often the magnitude will be high too(I mean in the case over speed etc). They should be paying more fine. The Govt. has already said that the hike in fines are to reduce the no.of accidents; not to increase the revenue.
Just imagine the following situation (based on the fine structure in scorpiobharth's post)
A Maruti 800 and a Captiva are caught for over speeding. Both vehicles were going @ 85kmph. M800 owner is fined Rs.8000!!! and the Captiva owner is fined Rs.25000!!!
Does it make any sense? And in reality which car was driven more dangerously? Of course the M800. Doing 85kmph in a Captiva is a lot easier. And how many of us are ready to pay Rs.8000-12000 for driving a car @ 85kmph?! And non bailable arrest for repeated offence. I just cant understand the way in which some people think.

[thoma]

Originally Posted by fast&furious

Those kinda fine structure will not bring down the no. of traffic offences but will only discourage people from buying costly cars.

Does it make any sense? And in reality which car was driven more dangerously? Of course the M800. Doing 85kmph in a Captiva is a lot easier. And how many of us are ready to pay Rs.8000-12000 for driving a car @ 85kmph?! And non bailable arrest for repeated offence. I just cant understand the way in which some people think.

I feel you have missed the initial part of the post. Why not give it a deep thought than scoffing at it outright? It was only an invitation to think that whatever fine imposed on an Audi owner is nothing and he might still continue to repeat the offence.

"5000/- would hurt a 2-wheeler offender, but is peanuts for an LC200 owner or even an Audi owner"

Doesn't it make sense that, if the tax is proportional to the cost of the vehicle, so has to be a fine? And by doing high-speed easier on a vehicle only makes it easier to break the law.