12 Sep 2019 | 05:32am IST
State may reduce amount of traffic fines: Minister
PANJIM: The State government is contemplating reducing the amount of the penalty of some of the traffic offences under the amended Central Motor Vehicles Act, that will come into force in Goa from January next year.
The announcement comes a day after the Gujarat government notified the amount of the fines for some of the traffic violations, reducing penalties by 25 per cent to 90 per cent from the amounts notified by the Centre.
Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho said the government will not ‘mindlessly’ impose fines. “As far as implementation of the Central Motor Vehicles Act is concerned, there are some things which are compulsory and States have no control over such fines for drunken driving, driving without license, etc. We don’t have the liberty to reduce the fines but there are other violations wherein it is left to the State to lower the fines,” he said.
“In the name of discipline on the road to make citizens comply with the rules, it cannot be the case that we mindlessly go on imposing fines. We will take a call on this once the file is back after vetting from the Law Department,” Godinho added.
The State has decided to implement the amended Act from January after ensuring that the roads are in proper shape. “The Chief Minister (Pramod Sawant) has also clearly stated that it our moral responsibility to make the roads proper before enforcing the strict rules. The work of roads should be completed by December so that implementation begins from January,” he added.
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Hefty traffic fines aimed to save lives: Gadkari
AGENCIES, NEW DELHI: Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Wednesday defended the recent hike in traffic fines and described it as a deterrent which will promote road safety and avert accidents. This statement of his came a day after Gujarat Government announced a reduction in the fines under the new Motor Vehicles Act. Gadkari said that it is up to the states on what they do with the new Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019 that came into effect from September 1. According to the Minister of Road Transport and Highways and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, the higher fines are meant to save lives rather than augment revenue.
