A draft notification has been sent to the office of the UT Home Secretary, Krishna Mohan, who is the final authority on hiking the compounding fee for traffic violations.

The fines on traffic violations were last increased on May 9, 2007.

“There is definitely a need to increase fine amount for traffic violations. Unless people have to pay through their nose for a traffic violation, they will never improve... Those who violate traffic rules not only endanger their own lives but of others as well,” said Senior Superintendent of Police (Traffic) A S Ahlawat.

Compared to countries like the United Kingdom, the fine amount in Chandigarh or for that matter, even in Delhi, is minuscule.

In the United Kingdom, driving without a safety belt can cost up to 500 pounds (approximately Rs 40,000), fine for drunken driving can go up to 5,000 pounds (approximately Rs 4 lakh), for speeding the fine is 2,500 pounds along with compulsory disqualification of the driving licence.

The fine for using a mobile phone while driving is 60 pounds for private four-wheelers and up to 1,000 pounds for goods vehicles, buses, coaches.

According to the new notification sent to the UT Home Secretary, the minimum fine for any violation will be Rs 300 and Rs 600 for a subsequent violation.

In 2007, around 2 lakh motorists were challaned for various traffic violations and nearly Rs 2.5 crore was paid as fine.