Fail to pay e-challans? You may lose your licence and pay more for insurance

New Delhi: The Union Government is set to introduce stringent measures against drivers failing to pay their traffic e-challans on time, according to a Times of India report. Under the proposed rules, motorists who do not clear their fines within three months could face suspension of their driving licences. Additionally, those caught jumping red lights or engaging in dangerous driving three times in a financial year may have their licences confiscated for at least three months.

In an effort to boost compliance, authorities are also considering linking outstanding e-challans to higher vehicle insurance premiums. The drivers with at least two unpaid challans from the previous financial year may be required to pay higher insurance rates.

The revised enforcement strategy will leverage advanced technologies under Section 136A of the Act. These include speed cameras, CCTV surveillance, speed guns, body-worn cameras, and automatic number plate recognition systems to ensure stricter monitoring and prompt action against violators.

Currently, the recovery rate for e-challan fines remains low in several states. Many motorists contest their fines in court, often receiving significant reductions. Data suggests that nearly 80% of traffic penalties imposed by police are reduced upon judicial review. Common reasons for delayed payments include late notifications and errors in issued fines.

To streamline the penalty system, the government plans to implement a new Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for e-challans, ensuring timely notifications and efficient processing. As per the proposed framework:

• Drivers will receive an e-challan notice within three days of the violation.
• They must either pay the fine within 30 days or contest it before the grievance authority.
• Failure to take action within 30 days will be considered an admission of guilt.
• Non-payment within 90 days may result in the suspension of the driving licence or vehicle registration until the fine is cleared.

To tackle issues related to outdated contact details, the government will offer a three-month window for motorists to update their information on the Vahan and Saarthi portals. After this period, updating a registered mobile number will become mandatory for services such as Pollution Under Control (PUC) certification, insurance renewal, and renewal of driving licences or registration certificates.