While the bill proposing fines of up to Rs 100,000 for traffic violations is under debate, the traffic police reported collecting more than Rs 2.2 million in fines from the Kathmandu Valley on Monday alone. On Tuesday, the traffic police released photos showing wheel locks placed on vehicles parked disorderly inside Singha Durbar as part of enforcement actions against drivers. According to the Kathmandu Valley Traffic Police Office, a total of over Rs 14.7 million in fines has been collected in just the past 10 days for traffic rule violations across the valley. Records show that in the last week of Chaitra (mid-April), the valley collected up to Rs 1.3 million in fines, whereas from Baisakh (mid-April) onward, the monthly collections have hovered around Rs 10 million.
Office spokesperson Nareshraj Suvedi explained that enforcement and fines have increased following campaigns initiated to reduce road accidents. “Recently, after directives from the Home Minister and the Inspector General of Police to extend awareness programs to communities, citizens, and households, we have been conducting extensive awareness campaigns since Asar 1 (mid-June),” he said. “Along with awareness, violations have also been subject to penalties.”
Sharad Chandra Paudel, former secretary of the Public Transport Reform Task Force formed four years ago, cautioned that focusing heavily on fines might increase public dissatisfaction and anger, urging state authorities to be mindful of this. “Repeated attempts by leadership to influence government officials through elevated fines have been observed. While some encourage this, others discourage it,” Paudel commented. Former Additional Inspector General of Police Umeshraj Joshi, who also served as the head of valley traffic police, stated that the police have not acted merely to raise revenue. “That is a misconception, and it should not be done. Laws should be strengthened accordingly,” Joshi stated.
Experts note that in many countries, traffic violations are not treated as criminal offenses. Paudel, former Director General at the Department of Transport Management, argued that police should not have extensive authority to impose hefty fines. “In many countries, police do not have the authority to levy fines; cases must be forwarded to courts or relevant agencies,” he said. “A police officer carries a gun, and citizens cannot freely express themselves or question the penalty. Once fined, it’s final.” While Kathmandu traffic police do not carry weapons, Suvedi informed that other police units conduct joint checks at night for security reasons.
Debates over the authority of traffic police to collect fines have occurred previously in Nepal, and high-value fines are legally entrusted only to traffic offices, according to Suvedi. “Even if they demand more authority, imposing fines is solely the judiciary’s prerogative,” he clarified. “If powers are granted to the police, measures for supervision and discipline must also be established.” About a decade ago, the 15 percent commission from fine collections that traffic police received was removed amid complaints about harsh penalties for minor infractions.
Last week, Rastriya Prajatantra Party lawmaker Gyanbahadur Shahi argued that the state should compensate drivers for road damage caused by potholes if it punishes them. “If citizens are compelled to pay fines, who bears responsibility when the state causes damage?” he questioned, challenging the notion that the state is not accountable for accidents resulting from poor road conditions. According to former Additional IGP Joshi, enforcement is ineffective unless fines are imposed: “Traffic police’s role is not revenue collection alone. Penalties alone are insufficient. Awareness must also be increased,” he said. “In practice, even without traffic police, drivers don’t stop at red lights. First the police arrive, then violations are acted upon—that is our reality.” However, awareness among the public regarding traffic regulations has improved over time, he added. The valley traffic police report that approximately 100 drivers are penalized daily for running red lights, with illegal parking on footpaths also posing significant problems.
Suvedi said enforcement also targets drivers who speed, use mobile phones while driving, or carry loads exceeding permissible limits. Citing reductions in indiscriminate smoking following fines for public smoking, former AIG Joshi emphasized that penalties should be instructional. “While strict action against violators is necessary, penalties should not be treated as ultimate punishments,” he remarked.
Videos posted on social media by traffic police showing enforcement against stunts and reckless driving have been widely praised. Suvedi reported that since complaints can be filed through social media alongside enforcement details and videos showing offenders admitting guilt, around 15 to 20 complaints are received daily. “Joint efforts by citizens and police in identifying violators have fostered a sense of surveillance even in areas without police presence,” he noted. Increasingly, CCTV footage is used to monitor and penalize violators. In response to public complaints about heavy-handed fines perceived as ‘roadblocks,’ more structured enforcement using information boards has been implemented. Joshi stressed that infrastructure should be prioritized alongside discipline and rules, stating, “Traffic should be given priority in road facilities.”
