Mumbai Police Targets Defaulters as Traffic Fines Cross Rs.700 Crore
Mumbai Police Targets Defaulters as Traffic Fines Cross Rs.700 Crore
With unpaid traffic fines exceeding ₹700 crore, the Mumbai Traffic Police has decided to take strict action against defaulters. Vehicles will be impounded, and criminal cases will be filed if owners ignore pending e-challans, according to a newly issued Standard Operating Procedure (SOP).
For serious offences like drunk driving and reckless driving, which are non-compoundable, the police must file charge sheets promptly. For lesser offences, fines can be accepted if the motorist is willing to pay through e-challans. If the owner refuses to pay, a charge sheet will be filed in court. Vehicles can also be impounded if drivers lack essential documents such as licences, registration certificates, or permits for commercial vehicles.
Despite offering multiple payment options, including the MahaTraffic app, PayTM, and cash payments, many motorists have failed to clear their fines. To address this, the police conducted nakabandis (blockades) at 107 locations on Sunday from midnight to 5 am. During the operation, 6,369 vehicles were checked, and 1,831 cases were registered. They impounded 28 auto rickshaws for missing documents and caught 70 drunk drivers.
The traffic police also approached the Lok Adalat on Saturday, recovering ₹17.26 crore in fines from 230,175 motorists after issuing pre-litigation notices. Over the past year, the department has recovered ₹500 crore in fines through five Lok Adalat sessions, achieving a recovery rate of over 50% for fines issued since 2016.
While these measures aim to improve traffic discipline and reduce road fatalities, motorists have raised complaints about officers using personal phones to issue e-challans instead of official devices. The department has pledged action against such violations.
