Violate goods carrying limit, pay hefty fine

The police have warned goods carriers against carrying load beyond the permissible limits, and that protruded from the vehicles. Goods vehicles that violate the load limit will attract a fine of Rs. 1,000 for the first time, and Rs. 2,000 during subsequent offences.

The ban came into effect after Ministry of Road Transport and Highways scrapped rule 93(8) of the Central Motor Vehicle Rules (CMVR), 1989, in a notification about a year ago. This sub rule gave room for goods carriers to carry poles or other visible materials that are up to 1m longer than the vehicle length.

A senior police officer told

The Hindu that the need to enforce the rule was necessary, as many of the accidents occurred recently had been caused by trucks, and autorickshaws that carried load beyond the permissible limits.

Many of the drivers, however, are unaware of the rule.

R. Rajesh of Ramanathapuram, a driver, said that the rule would affect smaller vehicles transporting construction materials such as pipes, rods, and wooden logs.

General secretary of the Coimbatore Consumer Cause K. Kathirmathiyon said that the risk was high for motorists during night hours as they are unable to make out the objects that are protruding out of vehicles, even if a flag or light is attached to it. Hardware merchants and the drivers should be educated about the amendment, and implications for violating the same.