Income-based traffic penalties would be effective and equitable

India must adopt a progressive system of fines to ensure that these can deter everybody equally regardless of economic status

- VIPUL ANEKANT, GOURAV VALLABH & BHOOMI GOYAL are, respectively, deputy commissioner, Delhi Police; professor of finance at XLRI Xavier School of Management and BJP leader; and undergraduate student of economics, Jesus & Mary College, Delhi University.

India's current traffic fine system enforces a uniform monetary penalty, regardless of an offender's income. For example, a billionaire and a low-income individual may be fined ₹500 for the same violation. While this amount is negligible for the billionaire, it can significantly burden the less affluent. This approach unintentionally places an unequal burden on economically disadvantaged individuals and fails to act as an effective deterrent for wealthy offenders. Such a system amplifies social disparities in a country marked by stark income inequality. It also fosters a sense of injustice and a casual attitude toward traffic laws, particularly among the well-off, who often view fines as minor inconveniences; this contributes to reckless driving and an alarming rise in road accidents. These problems can be addressed through income-based fines or progressive penalties.

The idea behind progressive fines is to align penalties with an offender's financial capacity. This approach ensures that the consequences of violations are meaningful for everyone, irrespective of income, creating equality of impact rather than equality of penalty amounts. This would be an equitable and just legal framework. Countries like Finland, Switzerland, Sweden and the UK have implemented income-based fine systems, achieving notable success in reducing traffic violations and promoting fairness.