NEW DELHI: Now repeat offenders of traffic offences like drunk driving, speeding, racing, dangerous driving and even for not wearing helmets face the risk of not only being disqualified to hold the driving licence (DL) but also finding their names with DL numbers in list of those whose licences are revoked.
The state transport departments can put such a list of persons on their portals, which people can see, according to the modified Central Motor Vehicle Rules.
The road transport ministry on Wednesday notified a set of modified rules, which have come into effect from Thursday (April 1). These include a provision to allow registration of vehicles with alterations, retrofitment and adapted vehicles where such changes have been made after permission from the transport authorities concerned. Such vehicles can be insured, something which was not allowed earlier.
Sources said the enabling provision to “name and shame” repeat offenders who pose risk to their lives and that of other road users has been made to promote responsible driving. However, such names can be made public, if the offender doesn’t go for an appeal within a month after disqualification to hold a DL or the appellate authority dismisses his/ her appeal.
“This procedure has been made to ensure that there is no breach of privacy and the process of appeal against charges of traffic rule violations are duly followed before putting names of repeat offenders in the list,” said a government official. The transport departments will create a separate section in their portal named “Revocation of Driving License under sub-section (1A) of section 19 of the Act” which will be in a machine-readable electronic, printable and shareable pdf form, for access by the general public.
The new changes in the rules will also make it convenient for people to avail transport-related services as the system will be online; starting from filing application and issuance of learner’s licence to submission of medical certificate and surrender and renewal of DL.
The government has also done away with the minimum educational qualification for obtaining DL for commercial vehicles and this has been replaced with the mandatory requirement of “minimum training and language comprehension”.
The modified rules also mandate that the vehicle registration will be at dealers’ point in the case of fully built vehicles. This means there will be no need to take the vehicle for registration to RTOs.