Mumbai: No cash payments for traffic fines from January 12

The Mumbai Traffic Police will stop accepting fines in cash from January 12, 2016. Offenders will have to swipe their credit or debit card to pay fines. The scheme is expected to be operational all over the city in the next six months.

Constables will be handed more than 1,000 e-challan machines on January 11, which have been rented from private companies. Traffic offenders will be able to pay fines on the spot only by swiping credit / debit cards. A convenience charge of Rs. 9.50 will be levied each time an e-challan is issued. With the new system, the traffic department is hoping to reduce corruption, as well as identify repeat offenders.

Those not carrying a credit / debit card, will be issued an e-challan. The drivers' / riders' details will be entered in the system and they will be given 15 days to pay their fines by approaching a bank or through National Electronic Funds Transfer (NEFT). Those who do not make the necessary payment in this period, will be charged Rs. 10 for every additional day that the payment is not made. If an offender who has not paid a fine is caught again, his / her licence will be suspended.

The system of swiping credit or debit cards to pay traffic fines was first introduced in Hyderabad (Telangana) in 2014. Online payment of traffic fines is being accepted in some other states as well.

Source: Mid-Day