Chennai Traffic Fines

Tamil Nadu is infamous for maximum road accidents in the country with most of them taking place in Chennai. As per the State Transport Department, around 607 people have died in road accidents in Chennai until September in 2020.

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Chennai Traffic Rules

Chennai has the second-highest number of road fatalities amongst mega Indian cities. Overspeeding is one of the most common reasons for road accidents in Chennai. Keeping the high number of road accidents across the country in mind, the Central Government had amended the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 in 2019. The Motor Vehicles Act 1988 states the motor laws of the country along with the fines and penalties in case of violations.

With the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act 2019, the fines and penalties for the violation of different traffic rules were increased manifold. This was done to make people accountable for their actions and discourage them from violating the traffic rules. The amended Act came into effect from 1^st September 2019.

Tamil Nadu had a mixed response to the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act 2019 and they did not immediately accept the revised penalties. Nonetheless, Chennai traffic police started implementing the new traffic challan rates from 1^st September 2019.

Eventually, the Tamil Nadu government decided to accept the hiked traffic penalties rates partially. While some of the revised traffic challan rates were accepted, some of the rates remained the same as they were before the implementation of the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act 2019.

Thus, the Chennai traffic challan rates are different from the rest of the country.

Before knowing the current Chennai traffic challan rates, let’s know about the various documents that every car driver must carry as per Chennai traffic rules.

Documents Required to Avoid a Chennai Traffic Challan

All car drivers in Chennai must carry the following documents while driving to abide by the Chennai traffic rules:

• A valid car insurance policy
• Car Registration Certificate (RC)
• A valid driver’s license of the person driving the car
• Pollution Under Control (PUC) Certificate of the car

If the traffic police stop a car, they may demand to see the above-mentioned documents. If the documents are unavailable, the driver may be issued a traffic challan for the violation of the Chennai traffic rules.

Traffic Fines in Chennai

Take a look at the various traffic fines in Chennai for the violation of different Chennai traffic rules:

When the traffic police in Chennai stops a car for one of the above violations, the car driver can pay the fine amount on the spot. In case an e-challan has been issued, he/she can pay the fine amount online.

How to Pay Chennai Traffic Challan Online?

People who have been issued an e-challan by the Chennai traffic police can pay the fine amount online by following the steps given below:

• Visit the official website of Tamil Nadu Traffic Police
• Go to the option of ‘E-Payment Traffic Challans’
• Enter either the challan number, vehicle number or DL number
• Once the challan details are visible, enter any other requested details
• Choose the online mode of payment
• Pay the challan amount online
• On successful payment, a payment confirmation will be received

Traffic Rules That Every Car Owner in Chennai Should Follow

Every car owner-driver in Chennai must follow the following Chennai traffic rules to avoid earning a fine:

• Always wear a seatbelt while driving and ensure that the co-passengers are doing the same. This will prevent the occupants of the car from getting severely injured in case of an accident.
• Maintain the speed limit specified on the road to avoid overspeeding. It will prevent the car owner from attracting a Chennai traffic challan.
• Carry all the mandatory car documents while going out for a drive. This will allow the car driver to present the documents requested by the traffic police officials.
• Do cooperate with the traffic police officials when they ask the car to be pulled over. Defying their directions may result in major legal trouble.
• Follow all the signs and signages on the road to avoid a traffic challan. For instance, do not drive in one way or park in a ‘No Parking’ zone.
• Do not take a U-turn unless the road is clear and there are no warning signs.
• Make sure to give an appropriate indicator before changing lanes or making a turn. This can avoid the car from meeting an accident.
• Do not drink and drive as it can lead to major accidents and cause the death of car passengers as well as other people.

In case the person driving the car has a learner’s license, he/she should mandatorily display the letter ‘L’ on the car at all times. If not displayed, a Chennai traffic challan can be issued to the driver.