Ramkrishan Upadhyay
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, August 14
Watch out before you violate traffic rules! For now, it will not be easy for you to get the suspended driving licence (DL) back as the UT Administration has decided to implement the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019.
Besides enhancing the penalty for various violations, the amended Act also has provisions which make it difficult for violators to get their suspended driving licence back.
To deter people from violating traffic rules, the Act provides for stricter provisions concerning offences such as juvenile driving, drunken driving, driving without licence, dangerous driving, speeding and overloading among others. Under the new law, it has been made mandatory for violators to undergo a driving refresher training course to get the suspended licence back.
A provision in the Act states that the driving licence shall be returned to the violator at the end of the period of disqualification only if he of she successfully completes the driver refresher training course.
At present, there is no such condition and violators get the driving licence back after the disqualification period is over by just appearing for a personal hearing before the issuing authority.
The Act also gives power to the licensing authority to disqualify the person from holding or obtaining any licence to drive all or any class of vehicle specified in the licence. The Act also has provision for putting names of violators in public domain.
The Act also has provision for a driving licence national register. Information regarding driving licences will have to be shared on the national register by the issuing authority. No driving licence shall be issued or renewed under the Act unless it has been issued a unique driving licence number under the national register.
Sources said the Transport Department would ensure the implementation of the Act by making the necessary changes in the Chandigarh Motor Vehicle Rules.
Driving refresher training course
To deter people from violating traffic rules, the Act provides for stricter provisions concerning offences such as juvenile driving, drunken driving, driving without licence, dangerous driving, speeding and overloading among others. Under the new law, it has been made mandatory for violators to undergo a driving refresher training course to get the suspended licence back.