Motor Vehicles Amendment Act

he Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has notified today, through S.O. No 3110(E), the provisions of the Motor Vehicles Amendment Act 2019 that will be applicable with effect from 1st of September 2019. These are provisions which require no further amendments in the Central Motor Vehicles Rules 1989. Important among the provisions notified today are the provisions  for enhanced penalties.

For the remaining provisions the Ministry has initiated the process of formulating draft rules. As and when the process is completed, the relevant provisions would be notified for implementation.

The attached table gives a brief of the provisions that have been notified today, and would be applicable from the 1st of September. To access the link click here

motor vehicles - microdots

PIB press release dated 29th July, 2019

The Ministry of Road Transport & Highways has issued a draft notification GSR 521(E) dated 24^thJuly 2019, amending Central Motor Vehicle Rules, allowing motor vehicles and their parts, components, assemblies, sub-assemblies to be affixed with permanent and nearly invisible microdots that can be read physically with a microscope and identified with ultra violet light source.

Microdot technology involves spraying the body and parts of the vehicle or any other machine with microscopic dots, which give a unique identification. Use of this technology will help check theft of vehicles and also use of fake spare parts.  

The microdots and adhesive will become permanent fixtures/affixation which cannot be removed without damaging the asset, that is the vehicle itself. The notification says that the microdots, if affixed, will have to comply with AIS 155 requirements.

The Ministry has sought comments / objections on the draft notification within thirty days.

High Security Registration Plates - new vehicles

Ministry of Road Transport & Highways press release dated 6th December, 2018 

All new vehicles will be sold pre-fitted with High Security Registration Plates – HSRP from the 1^st of April next year. The Ministry of Road Transport & Highways has notified amendments in Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989 to this effect. The notification mandates that the High Security Registration Plate including the third registration mark shall be supplied by the vehicle manufacturers along with the vehicles manufactured on or after the 1st day of April, 2019 to their dealers and dealers shall place a mark of registration on such plates and affix them on the vehicle. The vehicle dealers can also provide the HSRP plates for old vehicles.

This step is likely to improve the coverage of HSRP on vehicles, while ensuring its quality by the vehicle manufacturers. The HSRP helps in keeping track of the vehicle, and makes it easier to trace a lost or stolen vehicle.

The notification to amend the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989 to this effect was issued after due consideration of objections and suggestions received from the public in this regard. Ministry of Road Transport and Highways had in April this year invited objections and suggestions from those likely to be affected from the amendment.