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Who can legislate to increase fines?

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Written By mcadambi - 10 September, 2008

Traffic Bangalore suggestion Enforcement CMV Act Fines BTP

It is a well known fact as even Mr Praveen Sood iterates that the local police, i.e Bangalore City Police do not have powers to fine traffic offences. It is still dictated by the Central Motor Vehicles Act. Even the Chief Minister of Karnataka does not have such legislative powers. Only the Union Minister and the Minister of State, Shri T R Baalu and Shri K H Muniyappa have powers to table an amendment in the Central Motor Vehicles Act. I doubt they can do it within this session of parliament, but IMO, we need to create a momentum in order to have the CMV amended. Ideally, if fines are high, then traffic can be controlled and the fines can act as additional revenue for Bangalore City Police. As it is, fines are very paltry, say Rs. 100 /- or less and even are as much as a decent parking fee lot in some of our city malls! Second, for a city like Bangalore, we need to have highest fine inside the area covered by Inner Core Ring Road, high within Outer Ring Road and less within the Proposed Peripheral Ring Road. In addition, not just parking fines, even one way fines, skipping traffic signals, driving without helmet and seat belts, using high beam can be fined heavily so that such violations are curbed. I propose petitioning the Union Minister and the Minister of State. We have some advantage because of the proximity of the Minister of State, Shri K H Muniyappa who is from Bangalore. Perhaps we can organise a meet with him exclusively to discuss how fines are administered. I welcome your comments!

COMMENTS

Cess on fines

idontspam - 10 September, 2008 - 17:13

Can GoK instead legislate to impose a tax/cess on fines like how they are being levied on auto fuel? Only the cess could go up to 3000% based on the type of offence.

Fines

tsubba - 11 September, 2008 - 00:16

Cadambi, very observant. These are the types of meta governance issues that the CM and sundry MLAs should be brainstorming about.
 
Can this be done in such a way that the money stays with the city?

Mr Sood does not seem to be in favour

mcadambi - 11 September, 2008 - 14:00

In today's BMLTA summit, Mr Sood did not seem to be interested in "micro managing" traffic. Hence, he is of the opinion that increasing fines might not work.
However, with due respect, i beg to differ. Effective micro management and macro management are both required. Last mile governance is perhaps the most effective form of governance.
Thankfully, the Bangalore City Traffic Police has something called "Local Traffic Management Committee" (LTMC):
http://www.bangaloretrafficpolice.gov.in/english/traffic_management.htm
Such a committee could relate to internal dynamics of the area, for example, Malleswaram, where I live and reccomend where parking zones have to be marked and suggest options like parking two wheelers in "conservancies".
The idea is that the LTMC can work within the framework of existant or proposed Parking Policies.
But what is most irritating is the absence of an elected council which can be very effective in implementation and improvement of such policies.
Vox Poppuli Vox Dei!!

Fines should move with the times

s_yajaman - 11 September, 2008 - 09:32

On this one I agree with MCadambi ;).  A fine of Rs.100 for jumping lights was a lot when a salary of Rs.5000/month was considered quite high.  Today the same fine is meaningless for a person who earns Rs.50,000 or rs.100,000 per month. 

Mr.Sood with due respect should check out what Delhi has done.  When I was there recently, the taxi driver put on his seat belt without fail.  he also told me that governors were made compulsory for taxis.  He said there was a Rs.2000 fine for going faster than 60kmph in the city. 

Srivathsa

what about implementing the fines?

narayan82 - 11 September, 2008 - 10:15

A friend,once gave a suggestion: I thougt i absurd, but it did have some truth in it:
  •  Increase the fines, and give the policeman a cut. Hence for each fine of rs 1000/- the SI and his team should get Rs 750/- . This way the chances of the SI or the constable accepting a bribe is less. They wouldn't risk taking a bribe of say Rs.800 (minimum since they anyway get 750). Also, the policeman has the worst job standing in the pollution, with no medical insurance or decent salary. Its a painstaking job.
After thinking over it,it seems not a bad idea. But the problem is the current "bribes" arent property of the policeman, but are passed on righ till the top. So the cop really doesnt have a choice! 
 
Back to the point: Even if we do increase the fine, how do we stop the 100/200 rupee notes exchanging hands illegaly?

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