What to Do When Stopped by Traffic Police?
A certain set of basic traffic rules mentioned under the Motor Vehicles Act 1988 that should be followed by every individual. Failing to abide by these rules will result in the stoppage of your vehicle on the road by traffic police.
Vehicles can also be stopped by the traffic police as a result of routine checks. Here are more details about what should be done in case the vehicle has been stopped by the traffic police.
What to Do if a Traffic Police Officer Stops You?
The following are some of the significant points that you should keep in mind in case a traffic police stops you:
- Stopping the vehicle does not always mean breakage of the law. Listen to the traffic police as they might provide vital information regarding your vehicle, such as punctured tyre, driving without headlight, etc.
- Cooperate with the traffic police and stop the vehicle once stopped by the police as not doing so, may lead to legal complications
- Pull over your car safely after checking for any speeding vehicle and do not rush to change lanes to avoid accident
- Remain calm when stopped by the traffic police, roll down the window, and stop the engine
- Never argue with the traffic police and accept if any law has been breached
- Do not bribe the traffic police, instead pay the penalty if law has been broken
- Car can be detained if law has been violated, such as driving without driving license, car insurance policy, or parking in ‘No Parking’ zone
- Driver can be detained for breaking motor laws and driver should be presented in front of the magistrate less than 24 hours
Documents to Carry While Driving a Car:
The following are the documents that should be provided in case your car has been pulled over by the traffic police:
- Driving license of the driver
- Pollution Under Control Certificate (PUC) of the vehicle
- Registration Certificate (RC) of the car
- Valid car insurance document that has at least one third-party insurance coverage
What are the Basic Rules to Follow While Driving a Car?
The following are some of the basic traffic rules that you must follow while driving a car:
- Avoid drunk driving: Drunk-driving Road accidents have increased considerably over the years, due to which government of India has set the permissible limit of blood alcohol up to 0.03%. An individual can be charged a penalty amount ranging between Rs.2000 to Rs.10,000 or sentenced to seven months to fours imprisonment if someone fails to pass the BAC (Blood Alcohol Concentration) test.
- Do not drive a two-wheeler without wearing a helmet: All the individuals on a two-wheeler must wear helmets as the Motor Vehicle rules, otherwise drivers will be charged with penalty of Rs.1000. The license of the vehicle owners or drivers may also be suspended for three months by the traffic authorities in serious cases.
- Keep the valid car insurance policy while driving: Valid third-party car insurance coverage should be possessed by the motor vehicle owners as per the Motor Vehicles Act 1988. Individuals may be penalised for not carrying motor insurance or carrying lapsed insurance. The penalty amount be Rs.2000 and Rs.4000 for first-time and repeated offence, respectively.
- Never forget to wear the seat belt while driving a car: Must wear seat belt while driving and not doing will be considered as a violation of motor vehicles rules, thereby leading penalisation of Rs.1000.
- Avoid over speeding: Drivers should not exceed the speeding limit set by the government. Failing to do so will result in penalties of up to Rs.1000 to Rs.2000.
- Refrain from using mobile phone while driving: Mobile phones can only be used as a navigation tool while driving as per the new Motor Vehicle rules in effect from Oct 1, 2020. Using the device for any other purpose will lead to penalisation by traffic authorities of Rs.5000 and one year of imprisonment in some cases.
- Always keep an eye on the traffic signals: Must follow the traffic signals to avoid penalty of up to Rs.5000 and one year imprisonment.
- Follow the ‘No Entry’ zone indication: Avoid entering ‘No Entry’ zone that are marked with specific signals to avoid accidents, as these are created for one-way traffic movement.
Rights of Commuters in India
There are a lot of misconceptions about the power of traffic policemen. The myths surrounding the rights of commuters are also in plenty. Here are some of the rights a commuter should be aware of:
- The traffic policeman cannot seize your driving license unless you have broken the rules. Jumping the red light at a traffic signal, driving under the influence of alcohol, overloading the vehicle, and using a mobile phone while driving are some of the common traffic offences seen in India.
- If you have committed a traffic offence, you should be able to furnish your valid driving license, pollution under control (PUC) certificate, and car insurance papers upon being asked to do so.
- A policeman will be in uniform with his/her name and buckle number clearly displayed. Ensure you are showing your papers to a uniformed officer only.
- The police will not tow your car unless you vacate it.
- In case you are a female and have been stopped by the police after 6 p.m., you can request for a female cop to physically search you.
- The traffic police will not force you out of the vehicle or take away your car keys.
- The traffic police should have an e-challan machine or a challan book to fine you. The cop is not allowed to impose a fine without this.
- In case you have violated the law and have been arrested, you will be taken to the police station. If you are detained, you can be brought to court within 24 hours.
- The traffic police has absolute authority on the road. You should follow his/her instructions promptly.
FAQs on What to do when Stopped By Traffic Police
- How to deal with Indian traffic police?
You need to appear before the magistrate within 24 hours of the time you are being detained by the Traffic Police. In case, you are harassed by the Traffic police, you can file an official complaint at the police station by stating the relevant information.
- What if we ran away from traffic police?
If you run away from the traffic police, then you may end up paying a penalty amount of Rs.500 to the Sub-Inspector (one star), Sub-Inspector (two star), and Police inspector (three star).
- Can the traffic police fine you two times in a day for the same reason in India?
No, the traffic police cannot charge a penalty for the same reason unless it is an issue of over speeding. But in case the offender has lost the receipt of the previous fine, then they may need to pay the fine again while driving the vehicle in another state.
- Can traffic police stop me for no reason?
Yes, traffic police can stop you without any reason. Traffic police can stop the car for any suspicious but cannot charge a penalty if you are driving with all the required documents and not violating any laws.
- Who can check my vehicle papers?
Your vehicle papers can be checked by any of the traffic police. Penalties for violating laws can be charged by officers over the rank of sub-inspector.
- Can traffic police take or snatch your vehicle keys without your permission?
No, Indian Traffic Police cannot snatch your vehicle keys without permission to take leverage of bribe.
- How do I check if the challan is not fake?
To verify if the challan is fake or not, look for some of the vital details, such as name, address, offense, date and details of your trial court hearing, documents to be carried to the court, and name and sign of the traffic police.
- Is it mandatory to carry an original copy of the license while driving?
Both digital and physical form if license is legally approved. Vehicle owners can store their documents, such as registration certificate and driving license on Digilocker, which is a government-accredited app and is legally recognised as per the recent amendments in the Motor Vehicles Act1988 and the IT (Income Tax) Act 2000.
- Which documents do I have to carry with me while driving?
You must carry your driving license, vehicle’s insurance papers, registration certificate, and the PUC certificate while driving on Indian roads.
Disclaimer
Credit Card:
Credit Score:
Personal Loan:
Home Loan:
Fixed Deposit:
Copyright © 2025 BankBazaar.com.