Drink and Drive Fine in India: Driving Under the Influence Challan

There are certain traffic rules and regulations set up in the country that every citizen needs to follow while driving a vehicle or else a challan can be issued against him/her. Traffic rules violation is a serious offence in the country. One of the most common traffic violations done by drivers which is not acceptable at all is drunk driving or driving under the influence of alcohol. Drinking and driving not just imposes the risk to the life of the driver but to the public on roads as well. A majority of road accidents reported happen because of drunk driving and hence as per the laws, you cannot drive under the influence of alcohol or else a fine has to be paid. Learn more on drink and drive fine or challan in India.

What is Drink and Drive?

A person found driving a vehicle on public roads under the influence of alcohol is categorized as a drink and drive case. It is a traffic violation to drink and drive in India as a person is not capable of exercising complete control over the vehicle. A breath analyzer is used to verify the alcohol present in the blood. If the alcohol exceeds the permissible limit, then it is the case of drink and drive.

According to section 185 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, you cannot drive on public roads under the influence of drugs or alcohol and it is a serious crime. If a person is found drinking and driving, then it is a punishable offence. A challan is issued against the person or in the worst-case, he/she can face imprisonment.

Drink and Drive Challan or Fine in India

As per the laws, a challan or fine is released against the driver found drunk and driving on road. This is because “drink and drive” is illegal in the country. The challan or punishment is decided according to the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 and a person is punishable under the Indian Penal Court.

If you are found drunk while driving for the first time, then you can face imprisonment for 6 months. Besides this, a challan will be issued for Rs 10,000 against the person. If the same person is again found drunk while driving on a public road, then the challan of Rs 15,000 will be issued along with imprisonment for 2 years. The challan charges have been revised and increased so that people strictly follow the traffic rule to not drink and drive.

What to do if You Caught in a Drink and Drive case?

If you are caught drunk while driving by the traffic police, you will be first asked to get the BAC test done to verify if you are under the influence of alcohol. The test will be done using a breathalyzer and if the value of alcohol exceeds the Permissible Alcohol Limit then you will be likely to be penalised for breaking the traffic rule. As the penalty, a challan will be issued against your name by the traffic police. It is mandatory to pay the pending challans. You can pay for the drink and drive challan or fine either online or offline. For online mode, you can follow these steps:

Step 1: Open the official website of your State’s Transport Department.
Step 2: Press the payment of e-challan or traffic violation payment tab on the portal
Step 3: You need to enter either your vehicle number or challan number along with the captcha code
Step 4: The fines can then be submitted online using debit/credit card or Internet banking
Step 5: A confirmation message will be displayed on the screen after successful payment

For offline mode, you can submit the challan by following the below-mentioned steps:

Step 1: Go to your nearest traffic police station
Step 2: Ask the concerned person in charge of the amount you need to pay as fine
Step 3: Submit the fines and take the receipt

Drink and Drive Limit: Permissible Alcohol Limit in India while Driving

It is important for you to know the permissible alcohol limit while driving in India which is 30 MG/ 100 ML of blood. A person is being tested using a breath analyser by the traffic police. If the test results show that alcohol in the blood exceeds this limit, then the person is found guilty. Exceeding the permissible alcohol limit is a crime for which a challan is issued as the person is no longer in his/her senses to have complete control over the vehicle.

Drink and Drive Cases: Solutions to Stop Drinking and Driving Fines

Drinking and driving is a serious problem and the “drink and drive cases” are reported almost every day in the country. Here are some tips or solutions for an individual to avoid fines for drunk driving:

• Avoid drinking when you have to drive on roads
• Use cabs or taxis to go home when drunk
• Follow all the traffic rules and regulations
• Carry all your vehicle documents while driving
• Do not Overspeed the vehicle, especially when you are drunk
• Ask a friend to pick you up if you are drunk
• Prefer a non-alcoholic drink if you are going out alone
• If you have plans to have alcohol, drink responsibly
• If you are a parent, talk to your children about the dangers of drinking and driving
• If you suspect someone else being drunk while driving, call the police