Punjab assembly approves sweeping cut in traffic fines across vehicle categories

The Punjab Assembly has passed an amendment bill introducing substantial reductions in traffic fines for a wide range of vehicle categories, a move officials say is intended to provide financial relief to motorists without weakening enforcement against major violations.

The revised penalty structure will come into force once the legislation receives final approval from the provincial governor.

Under the new framework, fines for cars and jeeps have been reduced significantly from Rs5,000 to Rs2,000, although serious offences under this category will continue to carry a higher penalty of Rs5,000. Similarly, penalties for vehicles with engine capacities above 2000cc, including luxury cars, have been lowered, with the maximum fine reduced from Rs20,000 to Rs10,000.

Commercial and public transport operators will also see notable reductions. Fines for light transport vehicles such as Mazda and Coaster have been cut from Rs20,000 to Rs7,000, while penalties for heavy vehicles including trucks and buses have been reduced to Rs10,000.

Motorcycle riders and rickshaw operators are among the primary beneficiaries of the amendments. The fine for motorcycle violations has been reduced from Rs2,000 to Rs1,000, with the maximum penalty capped at Rs2,000. In the case of certain rickshaw-related offences, fines have been lowered from Rs3,000 to Rs1,000, though serious violations will still attract penalties of up to Rs2,000.

Despite the broad-based reductions, authorities have maintained existing penalties for overspeeding, signaling continued emphasis on road safety and deterrence against high-risk driving behavior.

Officials involved in the legislative process stated that the changes are designed to strike a balance between easing the financial burden on citizens and preserving strict penalties for more dangerous traffic offences.