Kathmandu, July 11

The Department of Transport Management has served a one-month ultimatum to all motorists who have not collected their driving licences, bill books, and route permits seized for traffic rule violation since mid-April 2014.

A public notice issued by the DoTM on July 3 said, “We urge the concerned motorists to pay the prescribed fine and collect their driving licenses, bill books, and road permits held by police for flouting traffic rules within a period of one month (July 4-August 4).

In case of failure to do so within the given time-frame, the documents will be revoked as per the existing laws.”

Seized driving licences will be reportedly distributed from DoTM, Min Bhawan while bill books and road permits will be distributed from the Transport Management Office from where they were issued.

The Metropolitan Traffic Police Division had recently forwarded nearly 20,000 unclaimed documents to the DoTM for necessary action, some dating back to 2005.

According to Section 164 of the Motor Vehicle and Transport Management Act-1993, if the concerned person fails to pay the prescribed fine for violation of traffic rules within 24 days, the DoTM may suspend the seized document for a period not exceeding one month along with a fine of Rs 1,000.

In the event of failure to pay the fine even within the period of suspension, the DoTM may revoke the driving licence or route permit. Most licences were seized for DUI cases and the offenders range from the general public to civil servants, security officials, cine-artistes and businesspersons.

More people abandoned seized driving licences after the law enforcement agency decided to punch holes in the driving license of DUI offenders since December 7, 2012, when a fine of Rs 1‚000 and a mandatory 20-minute lecture on traffic safety failed to deter them.

Offenders appear embarrassed to carry driving licences with holes in them, which it could be the reason why most refrain from reclaiming seized licences.