Penalties Under Motor Vehicles Act

The Motor Vehicle Act (MVA) 1988, Central Motor Vehicle Rules, 1989 and State Motor Vehicle Rules are the legal instruments for the conduct of road traffic in India. Some of the common offences and the consequent penalties are listed below:

No Offences  MVA Penalty 1. Not carrying valid licence while driving 177 First Offence: Fine up to Rs. 100; Subsequent Offence: Fine up to Rs. 300 2. Not carrying documents as required 177 First Offence: Fine up to Rs. 100; Subsequent Offence: Fine up to Rs. 300 3. Dangerous Lane cutting 177 First Offence: Fine up to Rs. 100; Subsequent Offence: Fine up to Rs. 300 4. Moving against One-Way 177 First Offence: Fine up to Rs. 100; Subsequent Offence: Fine up to Rs. 300 5. Overtaking dangerously 177 First Offence: Fine up to Rs. 100; Subsequent Offence: Fine up to Rs. 300 6. Jumping Signal (driving at red light) 177 First Offence: Fine up to Rs. 100; Subsequent Offence: Fine up to Rs. 300 7. Driving on Footpath 177 First Offence: Fine up to Rs. 100; Subsequent Offence: Fine up to Rs. 300 8. Stopping at Pedestrian Crossing or Crossing Stop Line 177 First Offence: Fine up to Rs. 100; Subsequent Offence: Fine up to Rs. 300 9. Parking Violations 177 First Offence: Fine up to Rs. 100; Subsequent Offence: Fine up to Rs. 300 10. Horn offences 177 First Offence: Fine up to Rs. 100; Subsequent Offence: Fine up to Rs. 300 11. Number Plate Offences 177 First Offence: Fine up to Rs. 100; Subsequent Offence: Fine up to Rs. 300 12. Improper use of Headlights 177 First Offence: Fine up to Rs. 100; Subsequent Offence: Fine up to Rs. 300 13. Charging Excess Fare 177 First Offence: Fine up to Rs. 100; Subsequent Offence: Fine up to Rs. 300 14. Misbehavior with Passenger 177 First Offence: Fine up to Rs. 100; Subsequent Offence: Fine up to Rs. 300 15. Refusal to ply for Hire 177 First Offence: Fine up to Rs. 100; Subsequent Offence: Fine up to Rs. 300 16. Breach of rules regarding carriage of hazardous goods 177 First Offence: Fine up to Rs. 100; Subsequent Offence: Fine up to Rs. 300 17. Using Mobile Phones while driving 177 First Offence: Fine up to Rs. 100; Subsequent Offence: Fine up to Rs. 300 18. Driving without Helmet 177 First Offence: Fine up to Rs. 100; Subsequent Offence: Fine up to Rs. 300 19. Breach of order, refusal to give information 179 Fine up to Rs 500 or Imprisonment up to 1 month or both. 20. Allowing the vehicle to be driven by a person who does not possess a valid licence 180 Fine up to Rs 1000 or Imprisonment up to 3 months or both. 21. Driving without valid licence 181 Fine up to Rs 500 or Imprisonment up to 3 months or both. 22. Offences related to driving license 182 Fine up to Rs 500 or Imprisonment up to 3 months or both. 23. Lack of proper maintenance and structure of vehicle 182(A) First Offence: Rs. 1000; Subsequent Offence: Rs. 5000 24. Driving at a speed exceeding as mentioned in MVA:112 183 First Offence: Rs. 400; Subsequent Offence: Rs. 1000. 25. Dangerous or Reckless Driving 184 First Offence: Fine up to Rs. 1000 or Imprisonment up to 6 months or both. Subsequent Offence: Fine up to Rs. 2000 or Imprisonment up to 2 yrs or both. 26. Driving under influence of Drugs or Alcohols 185 First Offence: Fine up to Rs. 2000 or Imprisonment up to 6 months or both. Subsequent Offence: Fine up to Rs. 3000 or Imprisonment up to 2 yrs or both. 27. Accidental Offences 187 First Offence: Fine up to Rs. 500 or Imprisonment up to 3 months or both. Subsequent Offence: Fine up to Rs. 1000 or Imprisonment up to 6 months or both 28. Illegal racing on road 189 Fine up to Rs 500 or Imprisonment up to 1 month or both. 29. Using vehicle in Unsafe conditions 190 First Offence: Fine up to Rs. 250. Subsequent Offence: Fine up to Rs. 1000 or Imprisonment up to 2 yrs or both. 30. Using Loudspeaker beyond specified limit 190(2) First Offence: Rs. 1000; Subsequent Offence: Rs. 2000. 31. Carriage of goods which are of dangerous & hazardous nature to human life 190(3) First Offence: Fine up to Rs. 3000 or Imprisonment up to 1 year or both. Subsequent Offence: Fine up to Rs. 5000 or Imprisonment up to 1 years or both. 32. Driving without Registration and valid Permit 192 First Offence: Fine up to Rs. 5000 (not less than Rs. 2000) or Imprisonment up to 3 months or both. Subsequent Offence: Fine up to Rs. 10000 (not less than Rs. 5000) or Imprisonment up to 1 yr or both. 33. Driving without valid Fitness Certificate 192 First Offence: Fine up to Rs. 5000 (not less than Rs. 2000) or Imprisonment up to 3 months or both. Subsequent Offence: Fine up to Rs. 10000 (not less than Rs. 5000) or Imprisonment up to 1 yr or both. 34. Using Private vehicle for Commercial purposes 192 First Offence: Fine up to Rs. 5000 (not less than Rs. 2000) or Imprisonment up to 3 months or both. Subsequent Offence: Fine up to Rs. 10000 (not less than Rs. 5000) or Imprisonment up to 1 yr or both. 35. Breach of Permit conditions 192 First Offence: Fine up to Rs. 5000 (not less than Rs. 2000) or Imprisonment up to 3 months or both. Subsequent Offence: Fine up to Rs. 10000 (not less than Rs. 5000) or Imprisonment up to 1 yr or both. 36. Overloading a vehicle beyond extent limit 194 Fine up to Rs 2000 and Rs. 1000 per tonne of extra load. 37. Driving without Insurance 196 Fine up to Rs 1000 or Imprisonment up to 3 months or both. 38. Driving of vehicle without legal authority 197 Fine up to Rs 500 or Imprisonment up to 3 months or both. 39. Disturbance in free flow of traffic 201 Fine up to Rs 50 per hour.