Jaipur: Driving under the influence of alcohol has become an expensive mistake in Jaipur. The city’s traffic police and courts have adopted a strict stance against drunk driving, warning that even a single drink can lead to heavy fines, arrest, and cancellation of a driving licence.
According to Jaipur Police, if a person is caught driving a vehicle after consuming alcohol, three levels of action can be taken. First, the police can arrest the driver on the spot and issue a challan of up to ₹10,000. Second, the Transport Department may cancel or suspend the driver’s licence. Third, if the vehicle documents are released through court proceedings, the court can impose an additional and often substantial fine.
₹25,000 Fine Even for One Peg
Many drivers believe that consuming just one peg of alcohol will not attract strict punishment. However, authorities have clarified that this assumption is wrong. If a drunk-driving case reaches the court, leniency is unlikely. Courts have become increasingly strict due to the rising number of fatal accidents caused by drunk driving.
Officials say that even consuming one strong drink can result in a fine of up to ₹25,000. Recent cases in Jaipur show that courts are imposing maximum penalties to create a strong deterrent against such offences.
Penalty Depends on Alcohol Level
When a driver is caught under the influence, the police conduct a medical test to measure the alcohol content in the blood. If the test shows 500 mg of alcohol per 100 ml of blood, the court can impose a fine of up to ₹25,000. Experts warn that consuming a large “Patiala peg” can easily push alcohol levels to this limit.
Even if the alcohol content is below 500 mg per 100 ml of blood, offenders are not spared. In such cases, a fine of up to ₹10,000 can still be imposed, along with other legal consequences.
₹1.25 Crore Recovered From Offenders in One Year
Jaipur Traffic Police have been running special drives against drunk driving across the city. Over the past year, action has been taken against 3,099 drivers for driving under the influence of alcohol.
DCP Traffic Sumit Mehra stated that the traffic police alone have recovered nearly ₹1.25 crore in fines from drunk-driving cases during this period. This amount does not include penalties imposed separately by courts.
Police officials have once again appealed to citizens to avoid driving after consuming alcohol, stressing that strict enforcement is aimed at saving lives and ensuring road safety.