Amended Motor Vehicles Act: Gujarat slashes Centre’s new traffic fines by up to 90%

Now, Gujarat slashes Centre’s new traffic fines by up to 90%. Barely 10 days after the amended Motor Vehicles Act (MVA) came into force, the Gujarat government on Tuesday notified the fines for some of the traffic offences, reducing the penalties by 25% to 90% than those notified by the Centre. The state government’s justification to reduce the penalties on “compassionate and humanitarian” grounds is now likely to pave way for other states to lower fines as well. The new Motor Vehicle Act gives states the power to lower the penalties for several offenses. The new fines will come into force in Gujarat from September 16. The original fines for offenses such as drunken driving and jumping traffic lights remain unchanged as these cannot be altered.