Pulled up by High Court, State moves to curb honking menace

The State government has acted sternly after its agencies were pulled up by the High Court for not acting against those indulging in honking and creating disturbances in public places.

Certain sections of Indian Motor Vehicles Act were amended and the penalty amount was sharply increased to curb the menace of those driving polluting vehicles and indulging in honking. The government has almost doubled the fine amount compared to the earlier amount.

The High Court recently expressed displeasure over the menace in public places which has contributed to air and noise pollution.

The respective agencies were directed to look into the matter and take suitable action.

The provisions granted under Section 200 of the Indian Motor Vehicles Act of 1988 were used by the government to amend Sections 115, 119, and 120 of Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, read with Section 190 (2) of Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. These sections basically deal with driving, causing or allowing to drive a motor vehicle in any public place violating the standards prescribed in relation to air, noise pollution  for two-wheelers, three-wheelers, four-wheelers and  heavy vehicles.

Earlier, the fine amount for violation by two and three-wheelers was Rs 300, four-wheeler Rs 600 and heavy vehicles Rs 800. As per the modifications of the sections, the penalty for any class of vehicles could be Rs 1,000 for the first offence and Rs 2,000 for second and subsequent offences.

K Beeresh, Under Secretary to Government Transport, Department, circulated the government notification amending the sections on October 9 to various agencies.
When contacted, B Dayananda, Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic & Security) told Deccan Herald that the traffic police received the  copy of the notification on Saturday. “

The police need to have clarity about the exact fine amount as the notification just says not exceeding Rs 1000. The police would contact the Transport Authorities on Monday, clarify and implement accordingly.”

The traffic police clarified that they would eye on those drivers who use any class  of vehicles which will not have undergone emission tests and those with faulty horns, silencers and shrill horns.

Any officer of the rank  of inspector attached to the Motor Vehicle Department and officer above the rank of sub-inspector and sub-inspector attached to the traffic police department are empowered to impose fines on the violators, added the police.