Delhi to adopt fully digital time-bound traffic challan system

A new fully digital time-bound traffic challan system will soon be implemented in Delhi. The new rules suggest a more stringent traffic challan regime, which specifies a driving licence suspension for repeat offenders in a year. The new rules also make it difficult for the aggrieved party to reach out to the court to settle a dispute, as a 50 percent upfront payment of the fine is required. 

1. Traffic challans will be issued in the name of the registered vehicle owner
2. 45 days will be offered to either accept or challenge a challan
3. An online dispute can be raised within the stipulated time at no extra cost

New traffic rules in Delhi: All you need to know

New rules specify a 45-day timeline for accepting or challenging a traffic challan

The new traffic challan framework specifies that e-challans will be issued in the name of the registered vehicle owner, who can either settle or challenge it within 45 days through the Parivahan portal. A lack of challenge within the stipulated days will be automatically considered an acceptance of the fine. In case of a dispute, the aggrieved party can challenge the challan online. If such a challenge is rejected, the violator either has to pay the challan within another 30 days or take it up to the court, which will require a 50 percent upfront payment before the proceedings even begin.

Under the new rules, police or authorised officers will continue to issue challans both physically and electronically. The e-challans will, however, be delivered to the violators on their registered cellphone numbers within three days, and a physical notice will be delivered in 15 days. It has also been specified that an electronic notice will be delivered daily upon the expiration of the 45 days.

Vehicle-related services will be affected upon non-payment of challans

If a challan remains unpaid, the vehicle will be flagged on the official portal as 'not to be transacted’, where restrictions shall be imposed on all Vahan portal-related services, including payment of taxes, registration-related requests, and even driving license-related facilities. Racking up five or more traffic violations will flag a violator as a 'serious offender', which can result in either suspension or disqualification of the driving license. The new rules also authorise authorities to impound the vehicle on the receipt of a court order.