High-intensity lights, protruding wheels: ₹5,000 fine for each illegal change as modified vehicles face crackdown

KOCHI: The Kerala High Court has directed authorities to impose a fine of ₹5,000 for each unauthorised modification made to a vehicle. The court also expressed displeasure over the imposition of only ₹5,000 as a fine on a jeep used for rescue operations despite it having more than one modification. The court said fines should also be imposed for unauthorised high-intensity lights fitted on vehicles.

Illegal lights or decorative fittings are not permitted on the exterior of a vehicle, inside the driver's cabin or in the passenger compartment, the court said. A Division Bench comprising Justice Anil K. Narendran and Justice S. Muraleedharan directed the enforcement wing of the Motor Vehicles Department and the police to take action in this regard.

The court said standards related to road safety and the control of noise and air pollution must be strictly followed. Violations of Supreme Court directives and the Central Motor Vehicle Rules pose a threat to pedestrians and others, it observed.
The court also termed the promotion of modified vehicles by YouTube vloggers a serious issue and directed authorities to take action against such videos.
The Division Bench was considering a suo motu petition concerning vehicle modifications. The case will be considered again on September 7.

High-Intensity lights pose a risk

• High-intensity headlights fitted on vehicles, including two-wheelers, can affect the vision of oncoming drivers and pedestrians. Pedestrians may temporarily lose their sense of their surroundings and could fall into drains or potholes or be hit by vehicles.
• Such lights can reduce drivers' reaction time and make it difficult to judge the distance of an approaching vehicle. The risk of accidents is particularly high on narrow roads and highways.
• Wheels protruding beyond the body of a vehicle are also not permitted. Mud and water splashed outward by such wheels can pose a threat to cyclists and two-wheeler riders, among others.