ISLAMABAD: Though the Islamabad Traffic Police have introduced stringent measures, including seizures of vehicles and imprisonment to stop traffic violations, the shortage of police officers has made it difficult for the police to enforce these laws.

A day earlier, a notification issued by the interior ministry increased the amount of fines for traffic violations at the request of the traffic police. An official told Dawn that the summary was moved some time ago, but it was approved by the cabinet on Tuesday.

Speaking about the problems faced by the police, an official said the ITP failed to take action against youngsters who perform stunts on major highways of the capital, including Expressway and 7th Avenue, because of the shortage of staff. He added after many of the U-turns in the capital were closed, there was a sharp spike in one-way violations, particularly after the increase in the price of petrol.

He said that action against the one-wheeling and other motorists involved in the stunts will be taken either under PPC 279 (rash driving or riding on a public way) or ‘Qalandra’ under the motor vehicle ordinance. ‘Qalandra’ is a notice issued by a magistrate in a particular area against a person against whom reasonable information is received by a magistrate that the person is about to commit a breach of peace, he added.

Fines for flouting traffic laws increased, violators may face imprisonment in some cases

Other officials of the ITP said that the police were already taking action against violations and registering cases against the violators under Section 279 of the Pakistan Penal Code for the last couple of weeks.

Traffic fines revised

The fine for one-wheeling was increased to Rs5,000 along with one-month imprisonment. The fine for noise pollution has increased to Rs1,500 for motorcycles and Rs1,800 for vehicles.

According to the notification, the fine for over-speeding was increased to Rs2,500 for HTV, Rs2,000 for PSV [public service vehicle], Rs1,500 for car and LTV, and Rs1,000 for motorcycle. Reckless driving will result in a Rs2,500 penalty for HTV and PSV, while for motorcycles and cars, it will be Rs1,000.

The fine for driving without a driving licence for HTV and PSV increased to Rs8,000; Rs2,000 for cars and LTV; and Rs1,000 for motorcycles. Plying an unregistered vehicle on roads will result in the penalty of Rs2,000 for HTV and PSV, and Rs1,000 for motorcycle, car and LTV.

Fine for improper U-turn is increased to Rs1,500 for HTV and PSV, Rs1,000 for car and LTV, and Rs500 for motorcycle. Fine for using pressure or musical horns is increased to Rs800 for motorcycle, Rs1,000 for car and LTV, and Rs1,800 for HTV and PSV.

Fine over driving any vehicle without fastening the seat belt by the driver and front seat passenger is increased to Rs1,500 for HTV and PSV and Rs1,000 for car and LTV. Fine over using a handheld mobile phone while driving has been increased to Rs1,000 for motorcycle, Rs1,500 for LTV and car and Rs2,000 for HTV and PSV.

Fine for the use of fancy/improper number plates is increased to Rs700 for motorcycles and Rs1,000 for cars, LTV, HTV, and PSV. Fine for smoke emitting vehicles is increased to Rs1,000 for car and LTV and Rs2,000 for HTV and PSV.

Fine over altering a licence or using an altered or forged licence and taking part in an unauthorised race or trail or speed is increased to Rs3,000, it said, adding that fine for underage driving is increased to Rs2,500.

Fine for overloading passengers by PSVs, driving a transport vehicle without obtaining a licence or with a license which is defective or not applicable to the vehicle driven, and leaving a minor below the age of 10 unattended in a locked/parked vehicle posing a danger to minor’s life is increased to Rs2,000.

Fine for plying where prohibited, seating a minor below the age of 10 on the front passenger seat/driver’s lap without proper safety is increased to Rs1,200.

Fine for overloading where prohibited, driving on the wrong side of the road, jumping a traffic queue, failing to dip headlight for other traffic, driving any vehicle at night on high beam or using dazzling light, riding a motorcycle without a helmet, driving a motor vehicle without insurance coverage, blowing horn in silence zone, driving without fitness certificate, misbehaving with passengers (only on the complaint), opening door dangerously by any vehicle, installing, watching LCD/TV, screen, video device on the front dashboard of any vehicle for any purpose other than navigation/GPS for vehicular direction, seating an adult male at the front seat of PSV or obstructing the view of the front cabin from the rear passenger cabin in any manner, parking on a sidewalk, parking on zebra crossing, parking in a “no parking” zone and parking on a footpath in increased to Rs1,000.

Fine over failure to yield the right of way to other vehicles, using indicators for any purpose other than those prescribed, failing to observe lighting hours, failure to observe slow signs, failure to stop for a school bus, turning where prohibited, failure to protect learning driver, smoking cigarette/cigar or tobacco by the driver, conductor or passengers in any manner in a PSV is increased to Rs800.

Fine over improper crossing of railway track, driving PSV without or with a defective fare mater, driving in violation of law or rules not otherwise provided, is increased to Rs700.

Fine over wrong crossing of road by the pedestrian other than overhead bridges/zebra crossing where available, violation of red light by cyclists, more than 0.5meters from the kerb, less than 0.5meters from another vehicle, less than 3 metres from a fire hydrant, less than 10 metres from a stop sign, less than 10 metres from the intersection, parking in front of any entrance to the premises, parking on a bus stop, and parking on a bridge is increased to Rs500.

Published in Dawn, September 28th, 2023