AI challan photos sparked family disputes: Kerala MVD now makes them private

The Kerala Motor Vehicles Department has changed access to photographs attached to AI-camera traffic fines, making them private and restricting access to vehicle owners.

Photographs captured by AI cameras for traffic violations will no longer be openly accessible through the e-Challan system using only a vehicle registration number.

Under the updated system, the vehicle owner will need to provide vehicle-related details and give consent to view the photograph associated with a fine.

The change follows complaints about the misuse and circulation of photographs captured during traffic enforcement.

Why did the MVD make the change?

Previously, entering a vehicle registration number could allow users to check fine details and access photographs linked to traffic violations.

The MVD received complaints about people searching for details of vehicles owned by women and circulating the associated photographs on social media.

There were also complaints that photographs included in fine notices had caused disputes between family members.

The new restrictions are intended to protect the privacy of people appearing in photographs captured during traffic enforcement.

Can vehicle owners still see the photographs?

Yes. The photographs have not been removed completely because they can be important when a vehicle owner challenges a fine.

Vehicle owners can access the relevant information through the official e-Challan system after providing the required vehicle details and consent.

Fine details can also be checked using the challan number received in the penalty SMS.

AI-camera photographs can provide evidence of a traffic violation and allow vehicle owners to verify whether a fine was correctly issued.

This is particularly important when there are disputes over penalties.

There have also been cases where fines were reportedly issued to vehicles that were at home because another vehicle was allegedly using a fake registration number.

Keeping the photographs available to the actual vehicle owner allows such complaints to be examined while limiting unnecessary public access.

How can motorists check their fines?

Motorists can check their challan information through the official e-Challan portal.

Check the official e-Challan portal

Fine information can also be accessed using the challan number provided in the SMS notification.

For disputes over a penalty, motorists can submit a grievance through the official grievance portal.

Submit an e-Challan grievance

The change creates a distinction between using AI-camera photographs for enforcement and making those photographs publicly searchable.

Traffic cameras are authorised to capture violations occurring in public places, but the photographs can contain people and other information that may raise privacy concerns.

The revised access system allows the photographs to continue serving as evidence while reducing the possibility of unrelated people obtaining and circulating them.