Punjab Govt Tightens Road Safety Rules, Ends Compounding for Serious Traffic Offences

June 25, 2026

Chandigarh: In a major road safety initiative, the Punjab Department of Transport has issued a notification under the provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, declaring several serious traffic violations as non-compoundable offences, meaning offenders will no longer be able to settle these violations by paying a fine and must face legal proceedings.

The notification, issued by the Transport-II Branch and signed by Transport Secretary Varun Roojam, IAS, came into force with immediate effect.

Dangerous Driving Violations to Face Stricter Action

Under Section 184 of the Motor Vehicles Act, the Punjab government has classified the following acts of dangerous driving as non-compoundable offences:

• Jumping a red light
• Violating a stop sign
• Driving against the authorised flow of traffic
• Driving in a manner considered dangerous or far below the standards expected of a competent and careful driver

Officials said the move aims to deter reckless driving and improve road safety across the state.

No Relief for Drunk Driving Offenders

The notification also removes offences under Section 185 (drunken driving or driving under the influence of drugs) and Section 188 (abetment of drunken driving offences) from the list of compoundable offences.

As a result, individuals caught driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs will now face stricter legal action and will not be able to dispose of their cases through compounding.

Crackdown on Juvenile Driving

The Transport Department has further clarified that offences involving juveniles or underage persons driving motor vehicles, covered under Section 199A of the Motor Vehicles Act, will also remain non-compoundable.

Authorities said the decision reflects the government’s commitment to preventing underage driving and enhancing accountability on roads.

Notification Effective Immediately

The notification, issued from Chandigarh on June 17, 2026, states that the revised provisions have come into force with immediate effect. Officials believe the stricter enforcement framework will help reduce traffic violations, improve road discipline and strengthen public safety across Punjab.