Break A Traffic Rule In Bengaluru? It’s FIRs Now, Not Just Fines

Last Updated:January 14, 2026, 14:53 IST

Officials now want to change that mindset. By making traffic violations a legal issue rather than a financial one, they hope to bring a sense of seriousness back to the roads.

Traffic violations in the city could now land you in real legal trouble, not just a dent in your wallet. Image: Canva

It was a familiar Bengaluru moment. The light turned yellow. The road ahead looked clear. For a second, Ravi, a sales representative travelling towards HSR layout considered speeding through. He didn’t. Not because of the fine. But because of what he heard his colleague the previous day.

Traffic violations in the city could now land you in real legal trouble, not just a dent in your wallet. For thousands of motorists like him, that split-second decision just got heavier.

Traffic rules, now with legal teeth

Bengaluru Traffic Police are tightening the screws on serious traffic violations. From now on, offences that were earlier settled with spot fines will increasingly attract FIRs, turning reckless driving into a criminal matter rather than a minor offence.

Police officials say this shift is aimed at curbing the growing number of accidents and dangerous driving incidents across the city. With complaints about rash driving, signal jumping and road rage on the rise, authorities believe fines alone are no longer enough to scare offenders straight.

A senior traffic police officer said tougher action was needed to send a clear message. “When people know that a violation could lead to a case in court, not just a challan, they think twice before breaking the rules."

Which violations will draw FIRs

The new approach will focus mainly on high-risk offences that endanger lives. These include drunk driving, rash and negligent driving, over-speeding, road rage incidents and hit-and-run cases.

Instead of paying a fine and moving on, offenders in such cases could now face police complaints, investigations and court proceedings. For repeat violators, the consequences could be even more serious.

Police are also leaning more on technology to enforce the rules. CCTV cameras, body-worn cameras and dashcam footage are expected to play a bigger role in identifying offenders, reducing the scope for excuses and on-the-spot negotiations.

Hand in hand with law

To back the tougher enforcement, Bengaluru Traffic Police are invoking provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. For serious offences such as rash and negligent driving, police are registering cases under Section 281 of the BNS, while hit-and-run incidents are being booked under Section 125.

In fatal accidents caused by negligence, Section 106 is being applied, turning what was earlier treated as a traffic violation into a full-fledged criminal offence. Officials say the shift from fines under the Motor Vehicles Act to FIRs under criminal law is meant to make motorists take road safety more seriously, as violations could now lead to court cases instead of just challans.

A city tired of chaos

For years, Bengaluru’s traffic has been infamous not just for congestion, but for indiscipline. Wrong-side driving, sudden lane cuts and red-light jumps have become so routine that many drivers treat fines as just another cost of commuting.

Officials now want to change that mindset. By making traffic violations a legal issue rather than a financial one, they hope to bring a sense of seriousness back to the roads.

“It is not about punishing people," another officer said. “It is about making them realise that one careless moment can ruin lives, including their own."

Back at the signal

The light at the junction turns green. Ravi moves forward, slower than he usually would. Around him, a few bikers hesitate before cutting lanes. A cab driver checks his speed.

It is a small shift, barely noticeable. But in a city that has grown used to traffic chaos, even a moment of caution feels like change.

From now on, breaking traffic rules in Bengaluru will not just cost money. It could cost time, peace of mind and a visit to court. And that, police hope, will finally make motorists pause before pressing the accelerator one second too early.