Team Herald
PANJIM: Goa, one of the few States yet to adopt the provisions of the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act a year and half after fines were revised, has finally decided to implement the stringent law with effect from May 1, 2021.
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The Act levies hefty penalties ranging from Rs 500 to Rs 40,000 (including repeat offence) and even Rs 1 lakh for
offences committed by manufacturer, importer and dealer of vehicles. For offences, where the State had the discretion to lower the fine amount, sources said, the State government “has done its best”.
The Motor Vehicles Amendment Act was passed in 2019 and while most other States have issued the notification, Goa lagged behind owing to objections from various stakeholders over the hefty fines. Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho’s proposal for quick implementation of the law was declined by the cabinet a couple of times until a notification was finally released on Monday.
The amendment Act added several new sections dealing with penalties for non-use of helmets and seatbelts, triple seat riding, failure to allow passage to emergency vehicles and use of horns in silence zones. It also increased penalties across the board.
For those caught over speeding, the penalty amount the rider/driver will have to pay is Rs 1,500 for light motor vehicle (LMV)) and Rs 4,000 (motor vehicle other than LMV). Repeating the offence will lead to impounding of the driving licence. The fine for reckless driving ranges between Rs 1,500 and Rs 5,000 and Rs 10,000 for repeat offences. Moreover, the Act also imposes suspension of licences for a minimum three months, for certain offences.
