In August, the Motor Vehicles Department (MVD) of Ernakulam achieved an unprecedented milestone, collecting ₹75 lakh in fines for traffic violations, the highest monthly amount ever recorded in the district. This achievement was driven by a robust special enforcement drive aimed at curbing traffic rule breaches and addressing the issue of overloading in commercial vehicles.
Historically, the department’s average monthly fine collection was approximately ₹40 lakh, despite issuing fines amounting to ₹1 crore every month. The recent special drive marked a significant shift in strategy, aiming to maximise fine collection rather than the previous practice of securing only 40-50% of the imposed fines.
A substantial portion of the record collection—about 25%—was attributed to penalties for overloading. Vehicles exceeding weight limits faced fines ranging from ₹45,000 to ₹60,000 per vehicle. The MVD intensified its focus on these violations following two recent accidents involving tipper lorries. This increased scrutiny, coupled with stricter enforcement and follow-up on previous violations, contributed to the significant rise in collected fines. Additionally, the Kerala High Court’s intervention to report on accidents involving overloaded vehicles further aided in the collection efforts. In August alone, around 3,100 traffic violations were recorded. The MVD noted a ripple effect: higher fine collections from major offenders prompted others with smaller fines to comply. While this drive has had a positive impact on overloading violations, it has led to an uptick in other traffic infractions. The department plans to address these by launching additional enforcement drives soon.
The revised strategy has also streamlined the fine payment process. Offenders are now required to pay directly to the MVD, bypassing court proceedings, which previously caused delays and increased pendency. The MVD’s drive has highlighted a demographic pattern: most violators are from other districts, particularly young individuals pursuing short-term courses in Kochi. This trend underscores the need for greater awareness and adherence to traffic rules among transient populations.