Mumbai: Prepare to forgo license for 6 months if caught drunk driving

From now on, licenses of those caught driving under the influence of alcohol will be suspended for six months. Also, those driving without their motor insurance will have their vehicles temporarily impounded till they renew or purchase their insurance policy. This was decided in a meeting of the state road safety council on Monday.

Transport Minister Diwakar Raote said the council decided to increase the license suspension period to six months. Officials said at present, the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, has provisions to suspend the license of those found driving drunk (having alcohol exceeding 30 mg per 100 ml of blood detected in a test like that of a breath analyser) for three months. This will be extended to six months.

"This will deter people from driving in an inebriated condition, as the suspension of their driving license for a long duration will also affect their livelihood," said Raote, adding that an order would be issued soon.

An official said, now, magistrates can fine and penalise people depending on the severity of the offence and also suspend their license for up to three months. This period will be increased to six months. Apart from this, the RTOs themselves will also be able to initiate suspension proceedings against those found driving drunk, ensuring stricter compliance with rules.

In two months, the police and transport department officials have taken action against around 12,000 motorists for drunk driving.

The implementation of a nation-wide computerised system for issuing driving licenses will also prevent these violators from getting duplicate licenses from within Maharashtra or other states.

The authorities will also seize and impound vehicles which are not insured yet plying on the roads. The transport department is planning to allow educated unemployed youth to send notices and reminders to people before the expiry of their licenses and motor vehicle insurance policies for a fee.

Raote said passenger transport vehicles like buses run by private transport companies will not be allowed to carry goods except those of their passengers. If found to be in the wrong, the authorities will off-load these goods at costs and consequences to the private travel company or bus operators.

The meeting also decided to lodge police cases against contractors whose roads developed potholes during the defect liability period. Similar action will also be taken against goods transporters who overload vehicles.

Raote said he was also planning to hold and host a road safety world cup in Mumbai where union surface transport minister Nitin Gadkari and transport ministers from all states would be invited.