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New Traffic Rules in Chennai: List of Rules and Fines for Violations

Team AckoMar 7, 2024

Chennai is the capital city of Tamil Nadu and home to lakhs of people. The more the population, the more the number of vehicles on roads. Hence, managing the traffic and keeping track of violations is challenging for the city’s authorities. To cope with that, the government introduced new traffic rules and fines as a measure to curb traffic offences in the city. Read ahead to learn more about the updated Chennai traffic fines, rules and violations.

Contents

Updated List of Traffic Violations and Fines in Chennai
New Traffic Rules in Chennai
- Traffic rules for four-wheeler drivers in Chennai
- Traffic rules for two-wheeler riders in Chennai
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Updated List of Traffic Violations and Fines in Chennai

All vehicle owners/drivers should follow the traffic rules in Chennai for smooth traffic flow and the safety of road users. The ever-increasing number of vehicles makes it even more challenging for the Chennai Traffic Police to control the traffic and keep track of violations. To discourage traffic violations, the Indian government passed an act called The Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act on September 1, 2019.

Chennai also implemented the new act with increased penalties for traffic offences. However, the Tamil Nadu government made some changes to the traffic fines structure and kept the fines unchanged for a few traffic violations.

The following table lists the updated Chennai traffic fines, new rules and traffic violations. Please note that repeat offences may result in a more significant amount of fines, and some traffic offences may also result in imprisonment, depending on the severity of the offence.

Traffic violation	Vehicle type	Penalty (in Rs.)
Driving/riding a vehicle without a valid Driving Licence (DL)	All vehicles	5,000
Driving/riding a vehicle without valid insurance	All vehicles	2,000
Riding a vehicle without helmet (rider and pillion rider)	Two-wheeler	1,000 and DL ban for 3 months
Driving a vehicle without wearing seatbelts	Four-wheeler	1,000 and/or community service
Driving/riding a vehicle under the influence of alcohol or any other intoxicating substances	All vehicles	10,000 and/or imprisonment of 6 months (15,000 and/or imprisonment of 2 years for repeat offence)
Driving/riding a vehicle without a valid Registration Certificate (RC)	All vehicles	5,000
Not obeying the instructions of traffic police	All vehicles	2,000
Driving a vehicle even after the cancellation of DL	All vehicles	5,000
Overloading of two-wheelers (triple riding)	Two-wheeler	2,000 and DL ban for 3 months
Offences committed by juveniles	All vehicles	25,000 and imprisonment of up to 3 years
Driving a vehicle without a valid permit	All vehicles	10,000
Violations related to licence conditions	All vehicles	25,000 to 1 lakh
Negligent or rash driving/riding	All vehicles	5,000
Offences related to road rules and regulations	All vehicles	500
General traffic offences	All vehicles	500
Driving a vehicle in a no-entry zone	All vehicles	2,000 to 5,000
Reckless driving that may cause harm to public	All vehicles	500
Overspeeding	All vehicles	300
Excessive overspeeding	All vehicles	350
Driving a vehicle in a physically/mentally unfit state	All vehicles	150
Usage of illegal or harmful fuel in vehicles	All vehicles	200
Offences related to air pollution norms	All vehicles	400
Driving a vehicle without paying the road tax	All vehicles	300 (600 for repeat offence)
Driving a vehicle in pedestrian-only zone	All vehicles	300 to 600
Violating rules related to Learner’s Licence (LL)	All vehicles	150
Offences related to noise pollution norms	All vehicles	100
Driving a oversized vehicle	Four-wheeler/other vehicles	5,000

New Traffic Rules in Chennai

The updated traffic rules and regulations in Chennai attract hefty fines. It is done to reduce the number of traffic violations in Chennai. However, fines for some of the offences remain unchanged. Whether the penalty is more or less, motorists and pedestrians should stick to the rules and regulations to make roads safe for everyone.

The following sections highlight some of the important traffic rules in Chennai for vehicle owners/drivers.

Traffic rules for four-wheeler drivers in Chennai

Do not drive a vehicle in an inebriated state. Do not get behind the wheel when you are under the influence of an intoxicating substance. It may lead to severe accidents with fatalities. Violation of this rule attracts hefty penalties.
Do not use mobile phones while driving a vehicle. It causes distraction and may lead to an accident. It is one of the most common reasons behind road accidents. Flouting this rule can result in traffic fines in Chennai.
Do not drive a vehicle without a valid Driving Licence. Only drive if you are qualified and have the supporting documents. Ignoring this rule may invite traffic challan in Chennai.
Do not go over the speed limit when driving, especially on highways. Overspeeding can lead to severe accidents and cause fatalities. Offences related to overspeeding attract heavy fines in Chennai.
Always carry all the documents related to the vehicle and driver when driving a vehicle in Chennai. You must produce the documents when asked by the authorities during an inspection. Failing to produce the necessary documents may result in traffic fines.

Traffic rules for two-wheeler riders in Chennai

Do not ride a two-wheeler without wearing a helmet. The same rule applies to the pillion rider. It is for the safety of the riders, and ignoring this rule may result in hefty penalties.
Only ride a two-wheeler with up to two people, including the rider. Do not practice triple riding, it may cause accidents due to overloading. Violating this rule attracts penalties in Chennai.
Do not ride dangerously, overspeed and involve yourself in road racing. It may lead to severe consequences. It is a serious traffic offence and can result in harsh penalties.
Do not jump traffic signals, especially red lights, while riding a two-wheeler in Chennai. Doing so can cause serious accidents. Hence, such offences attract heavy traffic fines in Chennai.
Carry all the mandatory documents related to the two-wheeler and rider while riding a bike/scooter/moped in Chennai. You should produce the required documents when asked by the relevant authorities. Failing to do so can attract traffic fines in Chennai.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are some of the most frequently asked questions and their answers related to Chennai traffic fines and rules.

How can I check if my vehicle has any traffic fines in Chennai?

You can log on to the Parivahan e-Challan portal and enter your vehicle or DL number to check if there are any traffic fines against your vehicle. You can also download the ACKO app and check the traffic fines details in Chennai.

Is it mandatory to wear a seatbelt while driving a car and being seated in a car in Chennai?

Wearing seatbelts is one of the critical traffic rules in Chennai. The driver and passengers need to wear seatbelts when the vehicle is on the move. It is a piece of crucial safety equipment for a car, and it can protect you in case of an accident. Hence, make sure you always wear them and failing to do so can attract traffic challans in Chennai.

What happens if I do not pay the traffic fines in Chennai?

If you fail to pay the traffic fine within the due date, the traffic police officer will visit your address to collect the same. If you are unavailable or do not make the payment, you will get a summons from the court to settle the dues. If you do not appear before the court, the authorities can impound your vehicle, or you may face a DL suspension.

How can I pay the traffic fines in Chennai?

You can visit the Parivahan e-Challan platform to check and pay traffic fines in Chennai. All you have to do is enter the vehicle registration number or the DL number, check fines and make an online payment.

Will I get a traffic challan in Chennai if I do not have a PUC certificate?

Yes, you may be fined for not carrying a valid PUC certificate while driving a vehicle in Chennai. It is one of the mandatory documents that you need to carry at all times.

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Disclaimer: The information mentioned on this page is sourced from government websites and other platforms on the internet. They are subject to change depending on government notifications.