The police have given vehicle owners in Mysuru 10 days to ensure that they possess a valid insurance for their vehicles, failing which their automobiles are liable to be seized.
The police will be carrying out a special drive against non-insured vehicles plying on the city roads from August 27 following directions of the Supreme Court in the regard. Hence, vehicle owners have been advised to compulsorily insure their vehicles and produce the insurance documents to the police during checks.
“If valid insurance documents are not produced, such vehicles will be seized,” said Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime and Traffic) Vikram Amathe.
The crackdown against non-insured vehicles follows the Supreme Court’s directions issued in March this year making the State government responsible for payment of compensation to victims of accidents involving vehicles without valid insurance.
According to Section 196 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, no vehicle can be allowed to ply on the road without a valid insurance.
Hitherto, the police would penalise vehicles caught without valid insurance and recommend to the Transport Department to cancel the licence of the owners of such vehicles.
“But, now vehicles with an expired insurance will be seized. The vehicle will be released only after the owner renews the insurance within a reasonable period of time, after which the owner will have to secure the vehicle’s release from the court,” Mr. Amathe said.
Even after seizing the non-insured vehicle, the police will penalise the offender and recommend to the Transport Department to cancel her or his licence, he added.