Karnataka plans Rs 5,000 fines, points-based licence for traffic violators

Karnataka is set to introduce a points-based driving licence system and raise fines for serious traffic violations to up to Rs 5,000 for habitual offenders. The proposals were discussed at a joint meeting of the transport and home departments on Wednesday, 30 September, attended by transport minister Byrathi Suresh and home minister Priyank Kharge. The Times of India and The Indian Express report that fines will vary for first-time offenders and increase progressively, with Rs 5,000 as the ceiling for repeat offenders.

The Deccan Herald reports the fine for parking on footpaths and driving on one-way roads will be raised from Rs 500 to Rs 5,000. The state will prohibit the manufacture and sale of half-helmets, integrate the Sarathi system with the e-challan system, and restore dedicated BMTC bus lanes on roads where metro construction is complete. The Indian Express adds that repeat offenders may face vehicle blacklisting and mandatory road safety training. The government is also examining a state-level carpooling policy and revisiting fixed fares for cab aggregators.

Update, 2 October 2026: The Indian Express reports that repeat offenders may face vehicle blacklisting and mandatory road safety training. It adds that the meeting discussed a One City-One Fare policy to standardise transport fares and stricter regulation of low-speed electric two-wheelers. The new source confirms the key proposals reported earlier.