Challan for Riding Without Helmet in India

Helmet Fines for Different States in India

After the amendment in 2019, some states decided on the penalty structure independently. Here is a list of challan in different states of the country after the September 1, 2019 amendment:

*Disclaimer: The above table highlighting helmet challan for different states in India may change if the state transport authority takes any action.

Fine for Not Wearing Helmet

Previously, as per the Motor Vehicle Act, the fine for not wearing a helmet was around ₹ 100/-. Since the fine amount was nominal, most two-wheeler riders used to go helmetless. Considering the riders' insincerity and safety, the government amended the rules in September 2019 and increased the fine from ₹ 100/—to ₹ 1,000/-.

Apart from this, various states gave the traffic police the authority to seize the two-wheeler and suspend the rider's driving license for three months. The amendment made in September 2019 also says that a rider must have a helmet with a 20-25 mm thickness and high-quality foam and should be ISI certified as per the Bureau of Standards.

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Process after Getting Caught Without Helmet

If the traffic police catch you while riding a two-wheeler without a helmet, then you will have to go through the process mentioned below:

• The traffic police will ask you to stop the two-wheeler on the side of the road.
• They will ask for the keys if they need to take them out.
• The police will ask you for documents such as DL, RC, PUCC, and a bike insurance policy. These four things are mandatory for a bike rider to carry while riding a bike. You will be fined accordingly if you cannot present these documents.
• Once they finish the verification, they will make the bike challan for riding without a helmet per the Motor Vehicle Act, 2019.
• The police will generate an e-challan and send it to your registered mobile number. If they send an e-challan, you can pay for it online, and if they hand over a hard copy, you can pay the challan amount immediately.

How to Pay Helmet Fine?

There are two types of methods explained below to pay the helmet challan:

1. Online Payment of Helmet E-challan

   • Visit the official website of your State’s Transport Department.
   • Look for the e-challan payment section.
   • Click on the link for the e-challan payment.
   • Now enter your challan number, or else you can enter the captcha code shown on the screen.
   • Now you will have to make the payment through UPI, Net Banking, credit/debit card.
   • Once the payment is made, you will receive a confirmation message.

2. Offline Payment of Helmet Challan

   If you want to pay the traffic challan amount offline, you can visit the nearest police station. There, you will confirm the amount and clear all your dues. Make sure to collect the receipt after paying the fine.

How to Avoid Getting Helmet Challan?

Riding a bike without a helmet is illegal, and the government made these traffic rules for your safety. Wearing a helmet can save you from being injured in a sudden road accident. However, if you want to avoid getting challan then here are some tips that you can follow:

• First, do not forget to wear a helmet on your bike, both the driver and pillion rider.
• Make sure that you have an ISI-certified 20-25 mm thick helmet.
• Purchase a helmet that fits on your head correctly; otherwise, it can hyperventilate you if it is undersized or oversized. Then, it can take off from your head itself, and you might be injured severely.
• If you find your helmet is cracking, replace it with a new one.

Conclusion

The government makes traffic rules for the safety of vehicle owners. However, as a responsible citizen of the country, you must follow the rules; otherwise, you will be ready to pay a hefty fine. Apart from this, some documents such as PUC, RC, License, andtwo-wheeler insurance policy are mandatory to carry while riding a two-wheeler.