Aurangabad, June 15:
A fine of Rs 11 crore imposed on 3.50 lakh motorists for violating traffic rules in the past two years has remained unpaid. As per the police and RTO officials the vehicles of the violators might be seized to recover the fine.
With the growing population of Aurangabad city, the number of all types of vehicles has increased rapidly in the last few years. Minors are seen driving vehicles even before their driving licenses are issued. With the increasing number of vehicles, the number of traffic violations is also increasing day by day. The state government has provided e-challan machines to take action against violators of traffic rules. The city transport department has been using e-challan machines since April 2019. The police ask the motorists to pay the penalty on the spot if they are caught breaking the traffic rules or mention unpaid if they do not have the money.
Since last year, many people have lost their jobs due to covid infection. In such a situation, the number of vehicle owners who do not pay the fine on the spot has increased rapidly. Some drivers deliberately do not pay the fine. However, senior police officials said they would have to pay the amount. If unpaid penalty is pending on the vehicle then no work in RTO will be done without payment of penalty. Not only that, but fines can be collected from citizens in any district of Maharashtra. Since the e-challan system is online, the traffic officials are able to find an unpaid penalty. If the fine is unpaid, the traffic police or RTO will not release the vehicle.
Total penalty imposed on vehicle owners – Rs 16,82,55,400.
Number of vehicle owners paid a penalty – 1,97,841.
Amount of fine paid by the vehicle owner – Rs 4,91,37,500.
Number of vehicle owners with unpaid fines- 3,56, 910
Amount of unpaid penalty – Rs 11,75, 91,200.
Speed guns for speeding motorists
The speed of a speeding vehicle that exceeds speed limit is measured by a speed gun machine and an online penalty is levied from the vehicle number. Without stopping the speeding driver and collecting the fine from them on the spot, the traffic police or RTO officers catch the vehicle at the next check post and collect the unpaid fine.