KATHMANDU, July 14: Traffic rule violators could soon face fines of up to Rs 50,000 for repeated offences, while those unable to pay may be allowed to settle their penalties through community service, if a proposed legal amendment is enacted.
Addressing the House of Representatives (HoR) meeting on Tuesday, Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport Sunil Lamsal said the government is drafting a bill to overhaul Nepal's traffic penalty system, introducing stricter sanctions for habitual offenders while offering a more flexible option for those facing financial hardship.
The minister dismissed media reports claiming that all speeding drivers would automatically be fined Rs 50,000, saying such reports were misleading.
Traffic Police introduce system to pay fines using machine
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Instead, he said, the proposed system adopts a graded approach, with penalties determined by the seriousness of the offence and whether the driver has repeatedly violated traffic rules.
Under the proposed framework, fines would start at Rs 500 and could rise to a maximum of Rs 50,000 for repeat offenders.
For example, a driver who marginally exceeds a speed limit of 30 or 40 kilometres per hour would be fined Rs 500. However, someone driving at 100 kilometres per hour in the same zone could face a fine of up to Rs 5,000.
The maximum penalty of Rs 50,000 would apply only to motorists who continue committing the same offence repeatedly. Persistent violations beyond that threshold could eventually lead to the cancellation of the driver's licence, Lamsal said.
The proposed legislation also introduces an alternative rarely seen in Nepal's traffic enforcement system: allowing offenders who cannot afford to pay fines to perform community service instead. "We are making provisions in the bill to allow traffic fines to be settled through community service. Preparations are underway," the minister told lawmakers.
According to Lamsal, the proposed reforms are intended to strengthen road discipline while ensuring that penalties remain proportionate to the offence and do not place an undue burden on economically vulnerable citizens.
