May 14, 2016- The hike in fines for traffic rules violations became effective from Saturday.
The government had amended the Motor Vehicles and Transport Management Act of 1993 seven months ago to increase the penalty. The range of fine has been increased from earlier Rs25 to Rs200 to between Rs500 and Rs1,500 at present. Although the government had announced that the new regulations will come into effect on May 1, Metropolitan Traffic Police Division has started enforcing it from Saturday.
There are only three types of fines now—Rs500 for simple traffic offences like not wearing helmets while riding a motorbike, Rs1,000 for moderate offences like driving motor vehicles without carrying a licence and Rs1,500 for serious offences like driving vehicle from the wrong side of the road. As per the new rules, motorists who repeat simple offences will be fined Rs1,000 in the second time and Rs1,500 in the third time.
The new rules are applicable across the country. According to traffic police, the hike in penalties is expected to deter motorists from violating traffic rules.
Meanwhile, transport entrepreneurs have demanded that the new rule be scrapped immediately. Representatives of several transport unions including National Federation of Nepal Transport Entrepreneurs met Home Minister Shakti Basnet on Friday and submitted a memorandum for the same.