KATHMANDU, March 11: The government has proposed an increase in fines for traffic violations, ranging from 50 to 150 percent. This proposal is part of the draft of the Bill, 2080 BS, which aims to establish new regulations for vehicles and transportation.

Tank Bahadur Mahat, the Under Secretary (Law) at the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport, mentioned that a draft has been prepared to augment the current fines by up to 150 percent. According to Mahat, the adjustments in penalties are designed to align with the current monetary value over time.

The penalties defined in the Motor Vehicle and Traffic Management Act 1993, are still applicable. Despite the law not being amended, the penalty amounts have been periodically adjusted and updated.

Initially, there was a proposal to hike the fines by up to 400 percent. However, the Ministry has decided to limit the increase to between 50 and 150 percent.

Under the new proposal, individuals who modify the color, number of seats, appearance, engine, or chassis of their vehicles without official approval could face fines ranging from Rs 2,000 to Rs 15,000.

For other violations, the traffic police have set fines. Currently, these fines vary from Rs 200 to Rs 5,000. With the proposed changes, traffic police fines will see an increase from 50 to 150 percent.

The authority to impose fines is being legally clarified to ensure both federal and provincial governments have enforcement rights. Currently, all enforcement powers rest with the federal government. A draft bill has been prepared to specify that only national highways fall under the central government's jurisdiction.

 
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