Home Department discusses licence suspension, higher fines for repeat traffic offenders

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Priyank Kharge. | Photo Credit: File photo

The Home Department is considering stricter action against repeat traffic violators in Bengaluru, including a points-based driving licence system that could lead to suspension of licences after motorists cross a prescribed violation threshold.

The proposals were discussed at a joint review meeting of the Home and Transport departments chaired by Home Minister Priyank Kharge and Transport Minister Byrathi Suresh at Vikas Soudha on Wednesday. Officials also discussed integrating the Transport Department’s Sarathi database with Bengaluru Traffic Police’s e-challan system to enable real-time access to a motorist’s licence status and previous violations.

Under the proposed points-based system, traffic offences would carry prescribed points and licences could be suspended once a driver accumulates a specified number. The government is also examining mandatory road-safety and defensive-driving training for repeat offenders before suspension or cancellation of licences.

The meeting also discussed increasing fines for violations such as parking on footpaths, driving against the permitted direction on one-way roads, driving on footpaths, illegal parking, parking in no-parking zones, signal jumping and obstructing free movement of traffic. Higher penalties for dangerous riding/driving and repeat offences were also considered.

Officials discussed identifying motorists with five or more traffic violations, recovering pending fines and, where necessary, impounding vehicles or imposing restrictions on habitual defaulters. Possible amendments to existing laws and rules were also examined.

The government is also considering regulatory action against the manufacture and sale of non-standard half helmets, along with stricter action against illegal horns, modified silencers and excessively bright LED lights.

Another proposal concerns low-speed battery-operated electric two-wheelers. The meeting discussed bringing such vehicles under appropriate traffic and safety regulations, including measures for vehicle identification and accountability of riders.

Other issues discussed included a possible “one city, one fare” policy for transport services, a State-level policy to promote car- and ride-sharing, park-and-ride facilities, stricter enforcement of pollution-under-control certificates and measures to encourage scrapping of old and unfit vehicles.

The meeting also examined a framework for shared autorickshaw services around Metro stations, including designated routes, fares and permits, to strengthen first- and last-mile connectivity.

With BMTC electric buses frequently breaking down on major roads and affecting traffic flow, officials discussed creating dedicated technical teams and an emergency-response mechanism for their quick removal. Coordination between BMTC and traffic police was also proposed.

Expanding BMTC services to technology corridors along the Outer Ring Road, providing feeder buses between Metro stations and technology parks, increasing bus frequency during peak hours and encouraging employee transport-sharing systems were also discussed.

The meeting was attended by Home Department Additional Chief Secretary Rajender Singh Katharia, Transport Department Secretary Deepa Cholan, Director General and Inspector General of Police M.A. Saleem, Transport Commissioner Selvamani, KSRTC Managing Director K.B. Shivakumar, BMRTC Managing Director Raghunandan Murthy, Bengaluru Police Commissioner Seemant Kumar Singh and Joint Commissioner of Police Karthik Reddy, among others.

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