It is a common sight on Indian roads, of drivers trying to surpass a traffic police if they are found violating norms. Some get into an argument, others deny having broken the rules. However, the e-challan system has brought a change in the way in which traffic police charge violators.
According to one estimate, the number of violations fined have almost doubled in the last one year. Thanks to cameras and the e-challan system, violators are sent a direct message of the place, time and the date of the traffic violations. They are lawfully required to pay the challan electronically after the same is done.
What is e-challan?
E-challans are issued after cameras record traffic violations such as red light jumping and over-speeding. Since e-challans came into use, the number of traffic violations being brought to book have increased.
The way the system works is that a camera records violations every time a vehicle breaks rules and sends pictures of the same to the control room. Since the date, time and place are encrypted, the evidence of the violation cannot be fiddled with.
After the data is sent to the national registry database of the government – VAHAN, a message is sent to your phone number. In general, a traffic control system keeps the records for at least 30 days. In certain cases such as stolen vehicles, the data could be stored for nearly a year. However, people who think a mistake has been made can contest the challan in court.
How are cases of non-payment handled?
There are several measures that are taken in case of non-payment of challan amount. For instance, if a cab violated traffic norms, the permit of the vehicle will not be renewed. In rare cases, licenses are also revoked.
Since several transactions related to the vehicles might get affected, the administration suggests that the challan should be paid on time.
Steps to make e-Challan online payment
Once you are in possession of an e-challan, you will have 60 days to pay a fine, failing which you may face legal consequences.
Here are the steps for traffic e challan payment online:
- To begin with, go to https://echallan.parivahan.gov.in/index/accused-challan.
- Enter your challan number along with your driving licence number or vehicle number on the main page.
- After you have entered the vehicle number, click on the ‘Get Detail’.
- You will be able to see the e challan status under the challan status row. You can now click on ‘Pay Now’ under the Payment column to proceed.
Conclusion
Complete knowledge and adherence to traffic norms is necessary to avoid a challan. Even if you manage to avoid paying the fine to a traffic police, the e-challan system works in a way that you may not be able to evade paying fine for traffic violations. Moreover, an electronic scheme of things during COVID-19 is in the benefit of the people as well as the traffic administration. Protection against legal liabilities and financial expenses are some of the benefits enjoyed by the holders of bike insurance policies. An array of bike insurance policies are available at Finserv MARKETS.