Ring Road drivers face steep fines

Cameras, traffic police, LRRA compound penalties

LAHORE:

Lahore Ring Road Authority (LRRA) has increased fines for traffic violations, adding to the financial burden on commuters already grappling with high inflation and penalties imposed by city traffic police and Safe City Authority cameras.

The revised penalties cover offences ranging from driving without a licence and speeding to illegal parking, overloading, using tinted windows and crossing roads on foot.

Several fines have increased substantially, including the penalty for driving without a licence, which has risen tenfold from Rs500 to Rs5,000.

The increase comes as the Ring Road police intensify enforcement against traffic violations, while motorists also face fines under the city traffic police's existing penalty schedule.

The measures have increased the financial consequences of traffic offences in the city.

Under the revised Ring Road penalties, improper overtaking will attract a fine of Rs5,000 for cars and Rs10,000 for vehicles with engine capacities exceeding 2,000cc.

Using the wrong lane will incur a Rs2,000 fine, while driving against the direction of traffic on a one-way section will cost Rs5,000.

The fine for overloading has increased from Rs2,000 to Rs7,000, while the penalty for illegal parking has doubled from Rs1,000 to Rs2,000.

Cars emitting excessive smoke will attract a Rs4,000 fine, compared with Rs5,000 for commercial vehicles.

Drivers caught overspeeding will face fines of Rs5,000 for vehicles with engine capacities of up to 2,000cc and Rs10,000 for larger ones.

Underage driving will incur a Rs10,000 fine.

Other violations carrying penalties include using black-tinted window films or non-standard number plates, both attracting fines of Rs5,000. Motorcycles entering the Ring Road will also incur a Rs5,000 fine.

The revised schedule also increases the penalty for pedestrians crossing the Ring Road from Rs200 to Rs1,000.

Bringing cattle onto the Ring Road will attract a Rs5,000 fine for their owners.

The fine for using a mobile phone while driving or failing to fasten a seat belt has also been increased from Rs500 to Rs3,000.

At the authority's performance review meeting last week, it was highlighted that Lahore Ring Road police had penalised 1,783 unlicensed drivers and 2,088 smoke-emitting vehicles in September. Challans were issued to 6,183 vehicles for overloading, while action was taken against 3,095 vehicles without number plates and 446 with tinted windows.

The police also fined 281 motorcycles for traffic violations and issued challans to 2,793 people for illegal pedestrian crossing. A further 5,322 vehicles were penalised for overspeeding, while 1,447 people were fined for not wearing seatbelts.

Seventy-two cases were registered against drivers for negligence and speeding, while several drivers were arrested and taken into custody.

At the monthly review meeting, Punjab Ring Road Authority Chairperson Safi Ullah Gondal directed the police to intensify action against speeding and motorcycles entering the route.

He also ordered stricter enforcement to prevent pedestrian crossings and accidents and improve road safety.

The city traffic police had already increased fines for a wide range of traffic violations in recent months. Under the revised schedule, overspeeding attracts fines ranging from Rs2,000 for motorcycles to Rs20,000 for cars with engine capacities exceeding 2,000cc and public service vehicles. Driving without a licence carries fines of Rs2,000 for motorcycles, Rs3,000 for three-wheelers and Rs5,000 for cars with engine capacities below 2,000cc. The penalty rises to Rs10,000 for larger cars and Rs15,000 for public service vehicles.

With motorists facing penalties from city traffic police, Safe City Authority cameras and Ring Road police, the increase adds to the financial burden on people using Lahore's roads.

While the higher fines are intended to strengthen enforcement of traffic laws and improve road safety, motorists already facing challans from multiple enforcement systems must contend with the cumulative cost of traffic violations.