CH NEWS
BENGALURU
Over 82,000 traffic violation cases involving government vehicles have been recorded, with fines running into crores remaining unpaid.
The Karnataka State Police Complaints Authority (KSPCA) has urged the Chief Secretary to take immediate steps to recover more than Rs 19.23 crore in pending traffic fines imposed on government vehicles, including police vehicles.
According to data furnished by the Home Department, 82,208 traffic violation cases were registered against government vehicles belonging to various departments over the past three-and-a-half years. Fines totalling Rs 19,23,72,500 remain unpaid, KSPCA member Mohan Kumar Danappa said in a letter to the Chief Secretary.
Police Department vehicles alone accounted for 3,366 traffic violation cases during the period.
Danappa cited reports of repeated violations involving government vehicles, including a police emergency patrol vehicle in Mysuru that was booked 71 times for seat-belt violations between July 2024 and June 10, 2026. The vehicle had accumulated fines of Rs 36,500.
The repeated violations have attracted criticism, particularly because police personnel routinely enforce traffic rules and collect penalties from motorists.
Danappa alleged that the failure to recover the outstanding fines reflected negligence by the departments concerned. He said the Police Department, as a disciplined force responsible for traffic regulation, law and order and crime prevention, should lead by example.
He urged the Chief Secretary to direct the Home Department to recover the pending fines immediately and conduct a comprehensive verification of all government vehicles allotted to various departments.