MVD to rein in practice of clicking photos of moving vehicles and imposing fines

Giving a breather to vehicle owners, the Transport department has decided to rein in the practice of issuing challans based on registration numbers captured by Motor Vehicle Department (MVD) officials by randomly clicking photographs of moving vehicles.

Speaking to The Hindu, Transport Commissioner C.H. Nagaraju said the MVD officials are empowered to intercept a vehicle and vet the documents of the vehicles as per the provisions of the Central Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.

However, the department has noticed that a section of officials have been charging the vehicle owners who lack necessary documents, such as pollution certificate, possessing expired insurance or driving license, by randomly clicking photographs of vehicles and checking the documents based on registration certificate. The department has decided to rein in this practice, and action would be taken against officials if they are found indulging these types of enforcement.

Instead, the officials can intercept a vehicle and inspect the documents either physically or electronically as per the provisions of Section 167A (3) of the Central Motor Vehicles Act, which recognises 12 offences that can be electronically captured and initiate penal action against the errant drivers.

Electronic challan

Further, the MVD officials can also issue an electronic challan based on the registration number of the vehicles, including for not lacking necessary documents, if the drivers are found violating traffic rules, said Mr. Nagaraju.

The department has also decided to take stringent action against the modification of vehicles or altering theirphysical or mechanical features by installing bullbars and crash guards on the bumper, compromising pedestrian safety and posing threats to other vehicles. Fitting extra lights on the vehicles will also attract a fine for each light as per the direction of a Kerala High Court order.

Roof luggage

However, the department has decided to allow the roof luggage carrier fitted on top of vehicles as there are no provisions in the Central Motor Vehicle Act to treat it as an alteration. Besides, penalising taxis for mounting luggage carriers on the vehicles can also affect the tourism sector. It is against this backdrop that the department has decided to exclude roof luggage carriers from the purview of ‘alteration,’ said an order.