Motor Vehicle Act, Rules and Transport Regulations
The legal framework
The Motor Vehicles Act 1988, the Central Motor Vehicles Rules 1989 and the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act 2019 govern licensing, registration, permits, insurance and penalties in Andhra Pradesh; enforcement is by the Transport Department and police.
Core provisions
- Licensing: Section 3 requires a valid licence; age is 16 for gearless motorcycles up to 50 cc with guardian consent, 18 for motorcycles with gear and non-transport LMV, 20 for transport vehicles. A learner's licence is valid six months and needs an 'L' display.
- Registration: Section 39 mandates registration; a new private vehicle's RC is valid 15 years, then renewed in five-year blocks. Section 56 requires a fitness certificate for transport vehicles.
- Permits: Section 66 requires a permit - stage carriage, contract carriage, goods carriage or private service vehicle; Section 112 covers weight and speed limits.
- Insurance: Section 146 makes third-party insurance compulsory; own-damage cover is optional.
- Drunk driving, Section 185: offence at blood alcohol above 30 mg per 100 ml; 2019 penalties ₹10,000 and/or six months for a first offence, ₹15,000 and/or two years for repeat.
- Safety sections: 129 helmet, 128 pillion limit, 194B seat belt ₹1,000, 194C helmet ₹1,000 plus three-month disqualification, 134 duty to report an accident, 134A Good Samaritan protection, 166 claims tribunal.
Worked example
A breath analyser shows 0.05% w/v alcohol in blood. Convert: 0.05 g per 100 ml = 50 mg per 100 ml. The Section 185 threshold is 30 mg per 100 ml, so the reading is above the limit and the driver is liable - a first offence attracts ₹10,000 and/or six months' imprisonment plus licence suspension.
Traps
- Quoting the 1988 penalties instead of the enhanced 2019 figures.
- Confusing the Act (1988) with the Rules (1989).
- Assuming third-party insurance is optional.