MOTOR VEHICLES (AMENDMENT) BILL 2019 PASSED BY RAJYA SABHA: What’s New in The Bill? Abhishek Tripathi BASICS OF LAW Thu, Aug 01, 2019, at ,01:17 PM The Rajya Sabha passed the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill 2019 introduced by the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari. Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha Harivansh Narayan Singh declared the Bill as amended passed based on 108 'yes' votes as against 13 'no' votes. The motions moved by Elamaram Kareem (CPI(M)) and Binoy Viswam (CPI) for referring the Bill to the standing committee were rejected by the House majority. The Lok Sabha had cleared the Bill containing 93 clauses on July 23. Now the Bill in the amended form will go back to Lok Sabha for its approval. The notable changes proposed by the Motor Vehicles(Amendment) Bill 2019 are as follows. Condition to undergo "driving refresher training course" for reviving license after suspension/revocation Compounding of traffic offenses under Section 200 has been introduced. Through an amendment to Section 200, punishment in the form of 'Community Service' can be imposed for traffic violations The duration of licenses to drive light motor vehicles and transport vehicles have been changed. Protection of Good Samaritans Enables Central Government to issue directions to manufacture to recall vehicle or components in cases of defects reported Liability of contractor/concessionaire in case of faulty road design Limited Liability in no-fault cases Claim petition has to be filed within six months of the date of the accident The compensation payable for victims in 'hit and run' out of the scheme fund under Section 161 has been enhanced to Rs. 2 lakhs in case of death, and Rs. 50,000/- in case of bodily injury, from Rs.25,000/- and Rs.12,500/- respectively. Road Safety Board created as per Section 215D for advising on matters relating to road safety. Section 88A empowers the Central Government to make schemes for national, multi-modal and inter-state transportation of goods or passengers. Stringent Penalties for Road Traffic Violations Section/ Offence Old Penalty New Penalty (Minimum) General (177) Rs 100 Rs 500 Rules of road regulation violation (new 177A) Rs. 100 Rs 500 Travelling without a ticket (178) Rs 200 Rs 500 Disobedience of orders of authorities (179) Rs 500 Rs 2000 Unauthorized use of vehicles without licence (180) Rs 1000 Rs 5000 Driving without licence (181) Rs 500 Rs 5000 Driving without qualification (182) Rs 500 Rs 10,000 Oversized vehicles (182B) New Rs 5000 Over speeding (183) Rs 400 Rs 1000 for LMV, Rs 2000 for Medium Passenger Vehicle Dangerous driving penalty (184) Rs. 1,000 Upto Rs 5000 Drunken driving (185) Rs 2000 Rs 10,000 Speeding/ Racing (189) Rs 500 Rs 5,000 Vehicle without permit (192A) Upto Rs 5000 Upto Rs 10,000 Aggregators (violations of licencing conditions) (193) New Rs 25,000 to Rs 1,00,000 Overloading (194) Rs 2,000, and Rs 1,000 per extra tonne Rs 20,000, and Rs 2,000 per extra tonne Overloading of Passengers (194A) N.A. Rs 1000 per extra passenger Seat Belt (194 B) Rs 100 Rs 1,000 Overloading of two-wheelers (194 C) Rs 100 Rs 2,000 , Disqualification of licence for 3 months Not providing way for emergency vehicles (194E) New Rs 10,000 Driving without insuarance (196) Rs 1,000 Rs 2,000 Offences by Juveniles (199) New Guardian/ Owner shall be deemed guilty. Rs 25,000 with 3 years imprisonment. Juvenile to be tried under JJ Act. Registration of Motor Vehicle to be cancelled. Power of officers to impound documents (206) N.A. Suspension of driving licence under sections 183, 184, 185, 189, 190, 194C, 194D, 194E, Offences committed by enforcing authorities (210B) N.A. Twice the penalty under the relevant section