Tushar Saxena, a journalist from Rampur, Uttar Pradesh, was surprised to receive a Rs 1,000 fine from the Noida police for allegedly driving without a helmet. The fine notification came via text message, leaving Saxena baffled as he resides over 200 kilometers away from Noida and does not recall any such incident.
A Misunderstanding Over Helmet Requirement
According to NDTV, the fine was issued for a supposed helmet violation, which Saxena finds confusing because helmets are not a standard requirement for car drivers. The challan, issued last November, has since prompted multiple follow-ups from the authorities through emails and additional messages. The Noida police have warned Saxena that failure to pay the fine could result in a court appearance.
Saxena, who purchased his white Hyundai in March last year, has expressed disbelief at the fine. “If you are violating traffic rules, then it is common to receive a fine but that is not my case. I have never driven my car to the NCR area. And if there’s any rule that says we have to wear a helmet inside a car, then the authorities must give this to me in writing,” Saxena told NDTV.
Tushar Saxena from #UttarPradesh‘s Rampur has been fined ₹1,000 by Noida Police for driving car without a helmet. pic.twitter.com/EM5tubYE9g
— Ch.M.NAIDU (@chmnaidu) August 26, 2024
Previous Incidents of Misplaced Fines
This incident is not an isolated case. In June, Bahadur Singh Parihar, president of the Jhansi Truckers’ Union, received a fine of Rs 1,000 for allegedly driving an Audi without a helmet. The challan incorrectly listed the vehicle as a two-wheeler while referring to it as a “motor car.” Parihar chose to wear a helmet while driving to avoid further fines and was advised by RTO officials to wait for a resolution post-Lok Sabha elections.
A similar mistake occurred in Bharatpur, Rajasthan, in 2017, where a man was fined for not wearing a helmet while driving his Maruti Omni minivan. These incidents highlight an ongoing issue with traffic fines and enforcement.
