Motor Vehicles Department to seize vehicles with unpaid fines

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Despite being fined multiple times — including penalties caught on AI surveillance cameras — some vehicle owners continue to ride the same vehicles without paying up. To clamp down on such habitual offenders, the Motor Vehicles Department (MVD) has decided to seize these vehicles.

Vehicles belonging to those who consistently violate traffic rules and avoid paying fines will be taken into custody and stored at designated locations. The vehicle will only be returned after all pending fines, including late fees, are paid, and legal formalities are completed. Additionally, the vehicle owner will have to pay storage charges for the duration the vehicle was held.

Due to limited space at MVD offices and police stations for storing seized vehicles, private storage facilities will be used. The fine amount will go to the department, while the storage fee will be paid to the private operator. The MVD is already storing seized vehicles in this manner at a KSRTC site in Eanchakkal, Thiruvananthapuram.

As per regulations, vehicles with unpaid taxes must be impounded. However, a lack of proper storage facilities had been a hurdle. Auto-rickshaws without permits or fitness certificates, and private buses and taxis with technical faults, are still operating on the roads. Once the storage centres are operational, such vehicles will also be seized. Overloaded goods vehicles will also be taken into custody if fines are unpaid. Authorities say this move will help significantly reduce fine and tax arrears.

Secure vehicle storage

• Private individuals can set up vehicle impound yards if they meet MVD’s safety guidelines.
• The facility must be fenced, under surveillance cameras, and have a designated security guard.
• Vehicles seized during inspections will be transferred here by MVD officials.
• Owners can reclaim their vehicles by presenting the fine payment receipt from the MVD office.
• A fixed amount will be collected from the owner as storage charges.

Shocking fine on a two-wheeler: Rs 13.39 Lakh
A two-wheeler registered in Kazhakoottam has an outstanding fine of Rs 13.39 lakh. Despite receiving multiple messages and notices, the owner has not paid the dues.

There has been a steep rise in the number of fined vehicles since the activation of AI cameras for traffic monitoring. About 30% of these vehicles are repeat offenders who have not paid even a single fine. There are around 250,000 vehicles in the state that have been fined more than 20 times.