[SS-Traveller]

Here's a way to judge how good a driver you are... Simple statistics, where all you need to be is honest! How many times have you paid a fine for traffic offences? It could be for parking in a "No Parking" zone, or it could be for using the mobile while driving. Whether you paid Rs.100 or Rs.1500, how many times do you contribute to the Traffic Police's Charity Ball every year? And why?

And if you don't mind telling us, how much?

So let's take this poll and find out...

Edit: You might as well also tell us how many km you drive every year to get the number of challans you do, as phamilyman suggests!

[phamilyman]

You need another poll to see how many km per month people drive. No Sunday drivers please!

[Thad E Ginathom]

You need another option for no ticket, but a 'fine' to the policeman --- or should that be included?

[kannan666]

Hmmm, maybe around an average of once a year but I've always got challaned for either talking on the mobile phone while driving or for parking in a 'no parking' zone ! Can't help picking up that phone sometimes due to work emergencies ! And finding parking space in downtown Bangalore, sometimes cut corners !

[SS-Traveller]

Originally Posted by Thad E Ginathom

You need another option for no ticket, but a 'fine' to the policeman --- or should that be included?

Good question, Nick!

Whether one received a 50% discount for not receiving a piece of government-printed paper, a traffic offence is where one has had to take out his/her wallet and lighten it a little in the presence of a traffic policeman, or maybe a magistrate. (Or maybe sent a cheque after receiving a challan at home. 50% discounts don't work then!)

This poll includes all incidents of 50% discount too...

[pulsar56]

Never been challan'ed driving a car.

Four years back (Hyd) : Got one for 50/- on bike for not wearing helmet! (had borrowed from a friend and he did not own a helmet)
Five years back (B'Lore): Paid 'FINE' of 100/- to a corrupt cop who was stopping every two-wheeler near Forum Mall.

My vehicles, Pulsar 150 & the Zen have a clean record till date!

[binaiks]

Challaned only once in my life time.. that was for overspeeding. I was cruising at a comfortable 60 kmph on Bannerghatta Road in Bangalore. The cops pulled over, and said the limit is only 40 kmph. I said there are no sign boards stating the same - he said there is one.. blah.. blah.. blah..

The Sign Board appeared a week later at the position he said it existed

[Gansan]

Got challaned after six years this evening. First time in the new Alto. Stopped for a moment near Guindy railway station to pick up my wife as usual. A no parking sign and barricades have sprung up there suddenly, which I did not notice. Some "uncles" lurking inside an adjoining petrol bunk came out and spot fined me. Dent: Rs 100.

BTW I drive almost every day, about 650 KM a month, car and bike combined. The last time I was booked by uncles was at Bangy in 2003 for jumping red light at Mekhri circle.

Today was only my fourth incident of being booked by cops in over 25 years of riding/driving.

[splitsecond]

Never got fined, i drive 800km(car+bike) per month,but once my friend borrowed my bike and he was caught by police, fined 100Rs for not having pollution certificate..lolz

[Samurai]

So far two times.

I was fined once in 1995 for doing free left turn into M.G road (Bangalore) in my scooter. I paid 100 bucks and got the receipt.

Next time was in 1997 when I bumped my M800 into an Amby in front of me at 5kmph when it stopped suddenly. The scooter rider who caused the Amby to panic brake by swinging across it got away scot-free, I ended up paying 300 bucks fine and 2000 more for the denting work.

[Eddy]

Have been driving for the past 11 years. Here is the list of the challans I have paid:

1- Red Light Jump: Rs 100
2- Entering a No Entry: Rs 100
3- Speeding (Thrice): Rs 400 * 3
4- Talking on Mobile while driving: Rs 100

[simply_sunny001]

I was once challaned by Delhi Police for speeding and thats the only time in my 15 years driving career.

And as a matter of fact, fine used to be Rs 900 for OverSpeeding in Delhi at that time, so did hurt a lot paying 900 Rs at 7 AM in morning when you never expected cops to be present on roads.

And i dont believe in paying bribes to policemen and never did so even in my college days.

[MrinalSinha]

Two times in 14 years of driving. Once in 2001 on a bike and last time was last month in my car. Both times accidents. :(

[mclaren1885]

Got fined 100 bucks once on bikes for jumping a signal by mistake. Actually, it used to be a free left turn near my college and one fine morning they decide to make it a no free left turn without any signage. Got another challan for parking a friends bike near Hot Tracks. Must have ridden around 30,000 kms on bikes over a span of 3yrs.

Got challaned thrice in cars over the last 6yrs. Once for talking on the phone, once for speeding, once for not carrying my license.

As for the under the table bit, must have paid the cops 3-4 times mainly because I am very forgetful about carrying my wallet and because my car used to have a loud exhaust.

Have been driving for just over 6yrs now and have clocked more than 1,50,000kms.

[Aditya]

Let's see. From October 1994 (when I turned 18 and started driving) to September 2009
Thrice for speeding - all three times my mistake.
Once for dark sun film - actually it wasn't that dark. Just that the car was full of mud from a drive to the Gujrat border. It was raining and the roads were muddy.
Once for lane cutting - it was the cops acting smart.
Once for wrong parking - had parked my bike properly but some idiot had moved it so that went completely out of place by the time I returned. It got picked up by the towing van.
That's a total of 6 challans in almost 15 years of driving.