71% of Traffic Violation Fines Remain Uncollected in Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu Police routinely issue challans for traffic violations, but recovering penalties from offenders remains a major challenge. Data presented in Parliament reveal that nearly ₹2,122 crore in traffic fines has gone unpaid over the last three years, accounting for about 71% of the total penalties imposed.
In 2024 alone, the State issued around 1.11 crore e-challans for offences such as:
- Drunk driving - Overspeeding - Riding without helmets - Mobile phone use while driving
While the total penalty amount stood at approximately ₹1,325 crore, police managed to collect only ₹314 crore, resulting in a recovery rate of just 24%.
The situation has worsened over time:
- In 2022, police recovered ₹161 crore (43%) of the ₹378 crore levied - Recovery rate fell to around 30% in 2023 - Declined further in 2024
Overall, between 2022 and 2024, authorities realised only ₹853 crore of nearly ₹2,975 crore due.
