Karnataka's Traffic Fines: What Happens If You Don't Comply?

Vehicle owners in Karnataka who do not have High-Security Registration Plates (HSRP) on their vehicles will soon face fines ranging from Rs 500 to Rs 1,000. Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy said the enforcement of this rule will start in early October, giving motorists around 15 days to comply.

Currently, only 53 lakh vehicles out of over 2 crore older vehicles in the state have installed HSRP. The Karnataka Transport Department issued a notification in August 2023, making HSRP mandatory for vehicles registered before April 1, 2019. Initially, a three-month deadline was set, but due to factors like a lack of response from vehicle owners and the Lok Sabha elections, the deadline was extended multiple times. The issue also reached the Karnataka High Court, and the most recent deadline was set for September 15.

While the court has not given any direction to extend the deadline further, the department will give vehicle owners an additional 15 days to comply before fines are imposed in early October, Reddy said.

Bengaluru has seen the highest compliance with HSRP installation, while tier II cities and rural areas have shown a lower response. A department official emphasized that motorists have been given sufficient time to follow the new rule, with multiple extensions provided since the notification was introduced in August.

At the same time, owners of public service vehicles, including buses, school vans, and taxis, are opposing the mandatory installation of Vehicle Tracking Devices (VTD) and panic buttons. They believe the transport department’s requirement to withhold fitness certificates without these devices is unjustified. Additionally, they argue that the installation costs, which range from Rs 15,000 to Rs 18,000, place a heavy financial burden on them. The original deadline for installing these devices was September 10.

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