Drink and Drive Challan/Fines in India
Driving while intoxicated is a risky and reckless behaviour that has resulted in several accidents and fatalities on Indian roadways. Not only is it illegal, but it also endangers many innocent lives. The government has put stringent fines and penalties for traffic violations in place to discourage people from operating vehicles while under the control of alcohol.
The penalty for driving while intoxicated has dramatically increased thanks to the Motor Vehicles Amendment Act of 2019, which took effect on September 1, 2019. The Motor Vehicles Act of 1988 was revised by the act, which doubled the fine for driving while intoxicated from Rs. 2,000 to Rs. 10,000. For the first crime and subsequent offences, the offender may also be sentenced to up to two years in jail in addition to the fine.
What will happen if you get caught for drunk driving in India?
If traffic police pull over your car on suspicion of drunk driving, they may request that you submit to a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) test. The purpose of the test is to determine your level of intoxication or the amount of alcohol in your blood. You will be required to blow into a Breathalyzer to complete the test. If the test’s results show that you have consumed more alcohol than the legal limit of 30 mg per 100 ml of blood, you will be considered to be driving under the influence and will put both your life and the lives of others in danger.
Then, you will receive a drink-drive challan to pay the fine.
The Drink and Drive Fines in India
Additionally, the new law increases the penalties for driving while under the affect of drugs. The prior penalty for such a violation was Rs. 2,000, but it has since been increased to Rs. 10,000. For the initial offence, the perpetrator may also be sentenced to up to six months in prison.
The fine for an additional violation is Rs. 15,000, and you may be sentenced to up to two years in prison. Repeat offenders face harsh penalties that could affect their ability to drive. All vehicle kinds and categories, including two-wheelers, four-wheelers, and commercial vehicles, are subject to the same fine for driving under the influence.
Additionally, the proprietor of a bar or pub is legally liable for any accidents brought on by a drunk motorist who was provided alcohol there. For this violation, the proprietor of the bar or pub may be subject to a fine of up to Rs. 50,000 and a sentence of up to three years in prison.
The Indian government has also added a new clause that states that if a driver is detected driving while intoxicated, their license will be suspended or cancelled. For the first offence, the license may be suspended or revoked for up to three months, and for successive violations, up to two years.
Drink and Drive Fines Statewise
| State | Fine (in INR) |
| Andhra Pradesh | Up to 10,000 for first offence Up to 15,000 for subsequent offences |
| Arunachal Pradesh | Up to 10,000 for first offence Up to 15,000 for subsequent offences |
| Assam | Up to 10,000 for first offence Up to 15,000 for subsequent offences |
| Bihar | Up to 10,000 for first offence Up to 15,000 for subsequent offences |
| Chhattisgarh | Up to 10,000 for first offence Up to 15,000 for subsequent offences |
| Delhi | Up to 10,000 for first offence Up to 15,000 for subsequent offences |
| Goa | Up to 10,000 for first offence Up to 15,000 for subsequent offences |
| Gujarat | Up to 10,000 for first offence Up to 15,000 for subsequent offences |
| Haryana | Up to 10,000 for first offence Up to 15,000 for subsequent offences |
| Himachal Pradesh | Up to 10,000 for first offence Up to 15,000 for subsequent offences |
| Jharkhand | Up to 10,000 for first offence Up to 15,000 for subsequent offences |
| Karnataka | Up to 10,000 for first offence Up to 15,000 for subsequent offences |
| Kerala | Up to 10,000 for first offence Up to 15,000 for subsequent offences |
| Madhya Pradesh | Up to 10,000 for first offence Up to 15,000 for subsequent offences |
| Maharashtra | Up to 10,000 for first offence Up to 15,000 for subsequent offences |
| Manipur | Up to 10,000 for first offence Up to 15,000 for subsequent offences |
| Meghalaya | Up to 5,000 for first offence Up to 10,000 for subsequent offences |
| Mizoram | Up to 5,000 for first offence Up to 10,000 for subsequent offences |
| Nagaland | Up to 10,000 for first offence Up to 15,000 for subsequent offences |
| Odisha | Up to 5,000 for first offence Up to 10,000 for subsequent offences |
| Punjab | Up to 10,000 for first offence Up to 15,000 for subsequent offences |
| Rajasthan | Up to 10,000 for first offence Up to 15,000 for subsequent offences |
| Sikkim | Up to 6,000 for first offence Up to 10,000 for subsequent offences |
| Tamil Nadu | Up to 10,000 for first offence Up to 15,000 for subsequent offences |
| Telangana | Up to 10,000 for first offence Up to 15,000 for subsequent offences |
| Tripura | Up to 5,000 for first offence Up to 10,000 for subsequent offences |
| Uttar Pradesh | Up to 10,000 for first offence Up to 15,000 for subsequent offences |
| Uttarakhand | Up to 5,000 for first offence Up to 10,000 for subsequent offences |
| West Bengal | Up to 10,000 for first offence Up to 15,000 for subsequent offences |
| Also Check – Speed Limit on Highways/Expressways in West Bengal |