Waivers Encourage Non-Compliance, Say Officials
The Bengaluru Traffic Police department is preparing proposals to significantly increase minimum penalties for traffic violations. This move comes in response to concerns that recurring 50% discounts on pending traffic fines have backfired, leading motorists to view penalties as negotiable discounts rather than legal consequences.
Since 2023, the Karnataka state government has offered these 50% waivers six times, with the most recent window from June 21 to July 10, 2026. While these schemes have cleared millions of challans and generated substantial revenue—the latest brought in ₹55 crore from 19.13 lakh challans—traffic officials argue they have fostered a culture where drivers intentionally delay payment, anticipating the next rebate.
Erosion of Deterrence and Road Safety
Senior traffic officials express serious concern that this practice is actively eroding road safety and law enforcement across Bengaluru's congested roads. They highlight that the department was not consulted prior to these discount decisions, which has hampered efforts to maintain order.
The issue is compounded by a 2019 amendment to the Motor Vehicles Act, which reduced penalties for basic infractions like not wearing a helmet or seatbelt from ₹1,000 to ₹500. When the 50% rebate is applied to these already reduced rates, the penalty for major safety violations drops to a mere ₹250. Police officers contend that such negligible amounts fail to serve as a genuine penalty or deter dangerous driving habits.
Police Propose Higher Minimum Penalties
To counter this trend and restore a sense of deterrence, the Bengaluru Traffic Police plan to submit proposals to the government to hike the minimum traffic violation fine back to ₹1,000. They emphasize that the primary objective of traffic fines is discipline and public safety, not revenue generation. Without strict, predictable enforcement, authorities caution that the fear of law enforcement will continue to diminish, endangering both motorists and pedestrians throughout the city.