In a significant policy shift, the Delhi Police have begun registering criminal cases, not just issuing fines, against serious traffic offenders in the national capital. For the first time in any Union Territory, individuals caught driving on the wrong side of the road are now liable to have a First Information Report (FIR) filed against them, introducing the threat of arrest and potential imprisonment.
First FIRs Registered Under New Strict Approach
The Delhi Police have officially registered at least two FIRs related to dangerous traffic violations. According to officials, the first case was filed at the Delhi Cantonment police station on January 3. A second FIR followed, registered at the Kapashera police station earlier this week. Both cases involve the serious offence of driving against the flow of traffic.
These pioneering FIRs have been booked under Section 281 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 2023, which deals with rash driving on a public way, along with relevant sections of the Motor Vehicles Act. Notably, the FIRs were registered by Traffic assistant sub-inspectors from their respective traffic circles, marking a direct escalation in enforcement.
From Challan to Criminal Record: Stiff Penalties Await
This move represents a dramatic increase in consequences for traffic violators. Previously, wrong-side driving typically resulted in a challan with a fine of ₹5,000. However, an FIR under BNS Section 281 changes the game entirely. The offence now attracts a potential prison term of up to six months, or a fine of ₹1,000, or both. Furthermore, the offender's vehicle is seized on the spot.
A senior Delhi Police official explained the gravity to Indian Express, stating, "It is a bailable offence, but the process is long – the individual must visit the police station and court to secure bail and to get the vehicle released." Both individuals booked in these initial FIRs have been released on bail following their arrest, but they now face a protracted legal process.
A Deterrent, Not the Norm: Police Clarify Stance
Police authorities have clarified that filing an FIR will not be the standard response for every minor traffic infraction. Instead, it is intended as a strong deterrent for actions that severely endanger public safety. An official stated that if a traffic officer identifies an offender on a heavily congested road or determines that the driver's action could risk lives, an FIR will definitely be registered.
This strict measure comes in response to a alarming rise in wrong-side driving incidents across Delhi. Data reveals a sharp increase, with 3,05,843 cases reported in 2025. Out of these, challans were issued for 1,78,448 cases, and notices were served for the remaining 1,27,395. This figure is substantially higher than the 2,49,210 challans and notices issued in 2024, highlighting the growing problem.
The trigger for the Kapashera FIR, for instance, was a driver who admitted to a traffic policeman that he was driving on the wrong side near Kapashera Chowk to avoid a traffic jam because he was in a hurry. This common but perilous justification has now been met with an unprecedented legal response, signaling a new era of accountability on Delhi's roads.
