Udupi: Nearly Rs 40 lakh in ANPR traffic fines remain unpaid, 6,980 challans pending

Mangalore Today News Network

Udupi, October 9, 2026: The Udupi district police are yet to collect nearly ₹40 lakh in traffic fines generated through Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras for various traffic violations.

Police actively penalise traffic offenders at major junctions and along roadsides, offering options to pay fines on the spot or settle cases through the court. However, notices for violations captured by ANPR cameras are sent directly to the offenders’ residential addresses by post. Drunk driving cases are settled only through the courts.

At present, there are no pending fines imposed on the spot. However, a large number of fines generated through ANPR cameras since May remain unpaid.

Fines pending on 6,980 challans

Since the ANPR camera system was launched on May 20 to record traffic violations and issue notices, a total of 11,797 challans have been generated.

These include 4,947 cases of driving without seat belts, each attracting a fine of ₹500; 3,991 cases of riding two-wheelers without helmets, also attracting a fine of ₹500 each; and 1,706 overspeeding cases, with fines of ₹500 for two-wheelers, ₹1,000 for cars and ₹2,000 for heavy vehicles.

Additionally, 131 cases of triple riding and 1,022 cases of driving on the wrong side of the road were recorded, each carrying a fine of ₹500.

So far, the police department has collected ₹27,60,500 through 4,817 challans. This includes ₹1,000 collected in 698 cases, ₹2,000 in five cases and ₹500 in 4,096 cases.

Under an earlier government scheme offering a 50% discount on pending traffic fines, more than 18 cases were settled by paying ₹250 instead of the original ₹500 fine.

However, fines on 6,980 challans remain unpaid, amounting to nearly ₹40 lakh.

Motorists waiting for discount schemes

Many motorists deliberately delay paying their fines, hoping the government will announce another 50% discount scheme for pending traffic challans.

A similar concession was offered in July and ended on July 10, during which a significant number of offenders cleared their outstanding fines at half the original amount.

Udupi Superintendent of Police Hariram Shankar has warned that people whose fines have remained unpaid for more than six months will be summoned to the respective police stations.

Unpaid fines could lead to further action

Motorists in the district generally pay fines imposed on the spot immediately, while e-challans issued through the ANPR system come with a specified payment deadline. Failure to clear the dues within the stipulated period could lead to further complications.

The Supreme Court has already directed state governments to withhold or cancel Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificates and stop the renewal of Registration Certificates (RCs) for vehicles with unpaid traffic fines.