Ever since the Central Government issued notification for the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act 2019, there has been panic among citizens to get their paper work done in order to avoid hefty penalties.
Even now, long queues can be seen outside Pollution Under Control (PUC) centres. According to sources, the State Government is considering some relaxation regarding the implementation of the compounding rates for traffic rules violations.
Assistant Regional Transport Officer (ARTO) Arvind Pandey said, “Instead of making long queues citizens should simply take a token from the centre and then come at the designated time to get their PUC certificate. Unless we see the crowd at PUC centres reducing we will not be issuing challan on PUC certificates. People should not panic and instead follow the traffic rules.”
He informed, “As of now, the Government order on new compounding rates has not been issued yet. We are taking compounding fees for traffic offences as per the old rates. However, if a challan has been issued under the non-compoundable offences, those challans will be sent directly to the court. Drunken driving and juvenile driving are the examples of non-compoundable traffic offences.”
The ARTO added, “It is of utmost importance that parents and guardians do not allow their juvenile children to drive or ride vehicles. If they are found doing so they will be given punishment by the court as per the amended MV Act. Under the added provision 192 (A), if a juvenile is found driving or riding his parents are liable to the pay the penalties of up to Rs 25,000 of three years sentencing or both. The registration of the vehicle which a minor is found driving will be cancelled for 12 months. Even after 12 months he has to go through the registration process again from the very beginning. Even the minor who was found riding or driving will not be issued Driving Licence (DL) till the age of 25 years.”
The traffic directorate issued 1,361 challans this year till June, to the vehicle owners who let a minor ride or drive their vehicles.