Traffic fines and sections

Every penalty in the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 — each offence with its penalty and section, as the Act is written. Breaking any other rule in the Act falls under the general penalty in section 177.

The amount on a challan can differ from the Act.

A state government may apply a multiplier of 1 to 10 times to these fines (section 210A).
The Central Government may raise fines by up to 10% a year by notification (section 199B).
A compoundable offence is settled at the amount the state has notified (section 200).
In a matter that goes to court, the court decides the penalty.

Where a Delhi Traffic Police notice shows an offence, we also show its Section, Description and Comp. Amt. lines exactly as the notice prints them.

54 offences

Helmets and seat belts

Riding without a helmet

Sec. 194D

Penalty: Fine of ₹1,000
Also: Licence disqualified for 3 months

Contravention of section 129 (protective headgear).

On a Delhi Traffic Police notice

Section : 194D MV ACT

DESCRIPTION : WITHOUT HELMET

COMP. AMT. : 1000

Motorcycle safety rules — e.g. more than one pillion rider

Sec. 194C

Penalty: Fine of ₹1,000
Also: Licence disqualified for 3 months

Section 128 allows one person besides the rider, on a proper seat behind the rider.

Not wearing a seat belt, or carrying passengers not wearing one

Sec. 194B(1)

Penalty: Fine of ₹1,000

Child under 14 not secured by a seat belt or child restraint

Sec. 194B(2)

Penalty: Fine of ₹1,000

Speed, signals and dangerous driving

Over-speeding

Sec. 183(1)

First offence: Light motor vehicle: ₹1,000 to ₹2,000. Medium or heavy vehicle: ₹2,000 to ₹4,000
Second or later offence: Driving licence impounded (section 206(4))

Speed limits are set under section 112.

On a Delhi Traffic Police notice

Section : 112/183 MV ACT

DESCRIPTION : OVER SPEED (LIGHT MOTOR VEHICLE)

COMP. AMT. : 2000

Dangerous driving — including jumping a red light, violating a stop sign, using a handheld phone while driving, illegal overtaking and driving against the flow of traffic

Sec. 184

First offence: Imprisonment of 6 months to 1 year, or a fine of ₹1,000 to ₹5,000, or both
Second or later offence: Within 3 years: imprisonment up to 2 years, or a fine of ₹10,000, or both

The Act lists these acts as dangerous driving (Explanation to section 184).

Not obeying a mandatory traffic sign, or a traffic police officer's direction

Sec. 119 r/w 177

First offence: Fine up to ₹500
Second or later offence: Fine up to ₹1,500

Section 119 has no penalty of its own, so section 177 applies. Delhi notices cite red-light jumping as 119/177.

Drunk driving (over 30 mg alcohol per 100 ml of blood) or driving under the influence of drugs

Sec. 185

First offence: Imprisonment up to 6 months, or a fine of ₹10,000, or both
Second or later offence: Imprisonment up to 2 years, or a fine of ₹15,000, or both

Racing or trials of speed on a public road

Sec. 189

First offence: Imprisonment up to 3 months, or a fine of ₹5,000, or both
Second or later offence: Imprisonment up to 1 year, or a fine of ₹10,000, or both

Not giving way to an ambulance, fire engine or other emergency vehicle

Sec. 194E

Penalty: Imprisonment up to 6 months, or a fine of ₹10,000, or both

Driving while mentally or physically unfit to drive

Sec. 186

First offence: Fine up to ₹1,000
Second or later offence: Fine up to ₹2,000

Abetting dangerous, drunk or unfit driving

Sec. 188

Penalty: The same punishment as the offence abetted (sections 184, 185 or 186)

Parking and obstruction

Improper parking — leaving a vehicle where it causes danger, obstruction or undue inconvenience

Sec. 122 r/w 177

First offence: Fine up to ₹500
Second or later offence: Fine up to ₹1,500

Section 122 has no penalty of its own, so section 177 applies.

On a Delhi Traffic Police notice

Section : 122/177 MV ACT

DESCRIPTION : IMPROPER PARKING

COMP. AMT. : 500

Leaving a vehicle so that it obstructs the free flow of traffic

Sec. 201(1)

Penalty: Penalty up to ₹500 while it remains there
Also: Removal (towing and storage) charges if the vehicle is removed

Licence and documents

Driving without a valid driving licence

Sec. 181

Penalty: Imprisonment up to 3 months, or a fine of ₹5,000, or both

Contravention of section 3 or section 4.

Owner allowing someone without a valid licence to drive

Sec. 180

Penalty: Imprisonment up to 3 months, or a fine of ₹5,000, or both

Driving while disqualified, or getting a licence by hiding a disqualification or endorsement

Sec. 182(1)

Penalty: Imprisonment up to 3 months, or a fine of ₹10,000, or both
Also: A licence obtained this way is of no effect

Acting as a conductor while disqualified, or getting a conductor's licence by hiding an endorsement

Sec. 182(2)

Penalty: Imprisonment up to 1 month, or a fine up to ₹10,000, or both

Disobeying a lawful direction, or obstructing an officer

Sec. 179(1)

Penalty: Fine up to ₹2,000

Withholding information the Act requires, or giving false information

Sec. 179(2)

Penalty: Imprisonment up to 1 month, or a fine up to ₹2,000, or both

Registration, insurance and permit

Driving without insurance

Sec. 196

First offence: Imprisonment up to 3 months, or a fine of ₹2,000, or both
Second or later offence: Imprisonment up to 3 months, or a fine of ₹4,000, or both

Using a vehicle without registration

Sec. 192(1)

First offence: Fine of ₹2,000 to ₹5,000
Second or later offence: Imprisonment up to 1 year, or a fine of ₹5,000 to ₹10,000, or both

Using a transport vehicle without a valid fitness certificate (section 56) is treated the same way. The court may impose a lesser punishment for reasons recorded.

Owner not applying to register a vehicle

Sec. 192B(1)

Penalty: Fine of five times the annual road tax, or one-third of the lifetime tax, whichever is higher

Dealer not applying to register a new vehicle

Sec. 192B(2)

Penalty: Fine of fifteen times the annual road tax, or the lifetime tax, whichever is higher

Registration obtained on false documents, or with a chassis or engine number that does not match the certificate

Sec. 192B(3)

Penalty: Imprisonment of 6 months to 1 year, and a fine of ten times the annual road tax or two-thirds of the lifetime tax, whichever is higher

Sub-section (4) applies the same to a dealer.

Using a vehicle without a permit, or against its permit conditions

Sec. 192A(1)

First offence: Imprisonment up to 6 months, or a fine of ₹10,000, or both
Second or later offence: Imprisonment of 6 months to 1 year, or a fine of ₹10,000, or both

Vehicle condition, pollution and noise

Vehicle that breaks the road-safety, noise or air-pollution standards

Sec. 190(2)

First offence: Imprisonment up to 3 months, or a fine up to ₹10,000, or both
Second or later offence: Imprisonment up to 6 months, or a fine up to ₹10,000, or both
Also: Licence disqualified for 3 months (first offence)

Driving a vehicle with a known, dangerous defect

Sec. 190(1)

First offence: Fine of ₹1,500. If the defect causes an accident with injury or damage: imprisonment up to 3 months, or a fine of ₹5,000, or both
Second or later offence: Imprisonment up to 6 months, or a fine of ₹10,000, for bodily injury or damage to property

Carrying dangerous or hazardous goods against the rules

Sec. 190(3)

First offence: A fine of ₹10,000 and licence disqualified for 3 months, or imprisonment up to 1 year, or both
Second or later offence: A fine of ₹20,000, or imprisonment up to 3 years, or both

Needless or continuous horn, horn in a no-horn zone, or a silencer cut-out

Sec. 194F

First offence: Fine of ₹1,000
Second or later offence: Fine of ₹2,000

Altering or retrofitting a vehicle in a way the law does not permit

Sec. 182A(4)

Penalty: Imprisonment up to 6 months, or a fine of ₹5,000 per alteration, or both

Goods vehicles

Overloading — exceeding the permissible weight

Sec. 194(1)

Penalty: Fine of ₹20,000, plus ₹2,000 per tonne of excess load
Also: Charges for off-loading the excess load; the vehicle may not move until it is removed

Load projecting beyond the sides, front, rear or permitted height

Sec. 194(1A)

Penalty: Fine of ₹20,000
Also: Charges for off-loading the load

Refusing to stop for weighing, or removing load before weighing

Sec. 194(2)

Penalty: Fine of ₹40,000

Buses, taxis and passengers

Carrying more passengers than allowed in a transport vehicle

Sec. 194A

Penalty: Fine of ₹200 per excess passenger
Also: The vehicle may not move until the excess passengers are off-loaded

Travelling in a stage carriage (bus) without a valid pass or ticket

Sec. 178(1)

Penalty: Fine up to ₹500

Conductor failing to collect the fare, issue a valid ticket or check tickets

Sec. 178(2)

Penalty: Fine up to ₹500

Refusing to ply a contract carriage (taxi, auto) or to carry passengers

Sec. 178(3)

Penalty: Two- or three-wheeled vehicle: fine up to ₹50. Any other: fine up to ₹500

Working as an agent or canvasser without authority

Sec. 193(1)

First offence: Fine of ₹1,000
Second or later offence: Imprisonment up to 6 months, or a fine of ₹2,000, or both

Operating as an aggregator (ride-hailing) without a licence

Sec. 193(2)

Penalty: Fine of ₹25,000 to ₹1,00,000

Aggregator breaking a licence condition

Sec. 193(3)

Penalty: Fine of ₹5,000

A condition the state has not designated as material.

Accidents, juveniles and misuse

Not stopping, helping or reporting after an accident, as the Act requires

Sec. 187

First offence: Imprisonment up to 6 months, or a fine of ₹5,000, or both
Second or later offence: Imprisonment up to 1 year, or a fine of ₹10,000, or both

Duties under sections 132(1)(a), 133 and 134.

Offence committed by a juvenile

Sec. 199A

Penalty: The guardian or owner is deemed guilty: imprisonment up to 3 years and a fine of ₹25,000
Also: The vehicle's registration is cancelled for 12 months, and the juvenile cannot get a licence until 25

Does not apply if the juvenile held a learner's or driving licence for that vehicle.

Taking and driving away a vehicle without the owner's consent

Sec. 197(1)

Penalty: Imprisonment up to 3 months, or a fine of ₹5,000, or both

Seizing control of a vehicle by force, threat or intimidation

Sec. 197(2)

Penalty: Imprisonment up to 3 months, or a fine of ₹5,000, or both

Entering a parked vehicle, or tampering with its brakes or mechanism, without authority

Sec. 198

Penalty: Fine of ₹1,000

Manufacturers, dealers, road authorities and enforcers

Manufacturer, importer or dealer selling, delivering or altering a vehicle that breaks the construction rules

Sec. 182A(1)

Penalty: Imprisonment up to 1 year, or a fine of ₹1,00,000 per vehicle, or both

Manufacturer not complying with the construction rules

Sec. 182A(2)

Penalty: Imprisonment up to 1 year, or a fine up to ₹100 crore, or both

Selling a notified critical safety component that does not comply

Sec. 182A(3)

Penalty: Imprisonment up to 1 year, or a fine of ₹1,00,000 per component, or both

Registering, or certifying as fit, a vehicle that breaks the size rules

Sec. 182B

Penalty: Fine of ₹5,000 to ₹10,000

Contravention of section 62A.

Road authority or contractor failing road design and maintenance standards, resulting in death or disability

Sec. 198A

Penalty: Fine up to ₹1,00,000

Offence committed by an authority that enforces the Act

Sec. 210B

Penalty: Twice the penalty for that offence

Breaking the road regulations made under section 118

Sec. 177A

Penalty: Fine of ₹500 to ₹1,000

Any other offence under the Act with no specific penalty

Sec. 177

First offence: Fine up to ₹500
Second or later offence: Fine up to ₹1,500

Source: Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 — consolidated text as on 21 May 2025 (India Code), which includes the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019. Checked against that text on 4 October 2026. Notice lines: Delhi Traffic Police notices, traffic.delhipolice.gov.in. This page summarises the law for information; it is not legal advice.