New Challan Rules: Mandatory For States To Keep E-records; Photographic Proof Of Offence Needed

The Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has issued a notification amending the Central Motor Vehicle Rules 1989 for ¡°Electronic Monitoring and Enforcement of Road Safety¡± and directed the state agencies to use electronic enforcement devices for issuing challans.

The new rules

As per the new rules, the agencies will have to send the challans to the offender within fifteen days of the offence (traffic violation) committed, and the electronic record should be stored till the disposal of challan.

"The notice of offence shall be sent within fifteen days of the occurrence of the offence and the electronic record collected by way of electronic monitoring should be stored till the disposal of challan," the ministry tweeted.

BCCL

The new rules specify the detailed provisions for placement of electronic enforcement devices (speed camera, closed-circuit television camera, speed gun, body wearable camera, dashboard camera, Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR), weigh in machine (WIM) and any such technology).

¡°State Govts shall ensure that such devices are placed at high-risk / high-density corridors on NHs, State Highways & at critical junctions, at least in major cities with more than 1 million population, including 132 cities mentioned in the notification. The notice of offence shall be sent within fifteen days of the occurrence of the offence and the electronic record collected by way of electronic monitoring should be stored till the disposal of challan,¡± the ministry said.

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Centre's notification

The Centre also stated that the electronic enforcement devices should be placed at high-risk and high-density corridors on National Highways and State Highways, and at critical junctions at least in major cities.

The electronic enforcement device shall be placed in such a manner so as not to cause any obstruction, line-of-sight issues or interruption in traffic flow. As per the newly notified rules, challans can be issued for not driving within the prescribed speed limit, stopping or parking a vehicle at an unauthorised location, not undertaking safety measures for drivers and pillion riders not wearing protective headgear or helmet.

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To issue challans state agencies should have to provide photographic evidence highlighting the offence and the license plate of the vehicle, measurement from the electronic enforcement device, date, time and place of the offence.