1,000 for Jumping a Red Light? Know the Red Light Jumping Challan Rules in 2025

Suppose you are driving to an important meeting and time is running out. The traffic light turns amber, and you decide to move ahead. A few seconds later, your phone buzzes with a message- you’ve received a red light jumping challan. This scene plays out thousands of times every day across Indian cities. Yet, most drivers are unaware of how strict the enforcement has become in 2025.

Jumping a red light is no longer just breaking a traffic rule. With AI cameras now monitoring almost every signal and fines that can put a dent in your wallet, understanding the red light challan system has become essential. Whether you drive daily in Delhi or occasionally in Bengaluru, this article explains everything you need to know about red light signal fines, updated traffic rules, and how to avoid e-challans in India.

Red Light Signal Challan Fine in India: What You’ll Have to Pay in 2025

Since the Motor Vehicles Amendment Act, 2019, the penalty for jumping a red light has gone up sharply. Earlier, you could get away with a small fine of just ₹100-₹300, but that’s long gone.

As of 2025, the red light challan fine in India stands at ₹1,000 for first-time offenders in most states. A repeat offence can cost you ₹2,000 or more. Some regions, such as Delhi and Maharashtra, have introduced even stricter penalties and automated enforcement through AI-based traffic cameras.

Fines can also vary slightly depending on local traffic regulations, so it’s always best to check your city’s official e-challan portal for the updated red light signal fine.

Here’s What’s Changed in 2025

• Installation of AI Cameras Everywhere: These automated systems now detect red light violations instantly.
• Higher Penalties: First-time fines have increased up to ₹1,000, while repeating the offence can add up to double the amount.
• Instant E-Challan Alerts: SMS notifications and digital challans are sent directly to the registered vehicle owner.
• Linked Databases: Traffic departments now sync challans with Vahan and Sarathi databases, making it harder to ignore fines.
• Repeat Offender Tracking: Multiple violations can lead to licence suspension or mandatory traffic school in some states.

The Legal Framework Behind Red Light Challan

The legal foundation for issuing a red light challan lies in Section 177 of the Motor Vehicles Act, which covers all forms of general disobedience of traffic signals and signage. After the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019, these rules were made stricter. The updated law gives traffic police the authority to impose fines and even recommend temporary licence suspension for repeat offenders.

If your red light jumping results in an accident, then you may get charged with something more serious under Section 184 (dangerous driving) or Section 279 (rash driving). That’s when the penalties increase significantly, and you might have to face the court proceedings instead of paying a fine online.

State-Wise Red Light Jumping Challan: A Complete Breakdown

Traffic tickets in India are not standardized. Every state has some leeway with the implementation of the Motor Vehicles Act, which means the red light challan amount can vary depending on where the violation occurs.

• Delhi

Delhi imposes a Rs. 1,000 penalty for first-time jumping of a red light and doubles it to Rs. 2,000 in case of a second-time offense. AI-powered cameras at all major intersections, from ITO to Rajouri Garden, automatically record offenses. Delhi’s traffic police also introduced measures such as the Prahari App where citizens can report traffic offenses.

• Maharashtra (Mumbai & Pune)

Maharashtra cities like Mumbai and Pune have deployed high-resolution cameras across big junctions such as Western Express Highway and Bandra-Worli Sea Link. The penalty is Rs. 1,000 for a single offence and goes up to Rs. 2,000 for a subsequent offence. The process is automated, and you can expect to get your challan notice in hours.

• Karnataka (Bengaluru)

Bengaluru paces Karnataka’s traffic monitoring efforts with a Rs. 1,000 fine for the first time offenders and Rs. 2,000 for repeat offenders. Traffic police use ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) systems to monitor violations, particularly around trouble spots such as Hebbal, Silk Board, and Indiranagar.

• Tamil Nadu (Chennai)

Tamil Nadu continues to impose ₹1,000 for first-time and ₹2,000 for repeat offences. Chennai smart traffic cameras monitor violations through signal integrated cameras, with heavy surveillance near T Nagar, Mount Road, and Velachery.

• Uttar Pradesh

UP charges Rs. 1,000 for the first time and Rs. 2,000 for the second time. Noida, Lucknow, and Kanpur now have red light violation detection systems with automatic uploading of your car number to the challan database.

• Telangana (Hyderabad)

Telangana charges Rs. 1,000 for the first time and Rs. 2,000 for the second time. Hyderabad now has smart signals in Jubilee Hills, Gachibowli, and Abids which are connected to a centralized system.

• Other States

Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Kerala have the same pattern with Rs. 1,000 for first time offenses and Rs. 2,000 for repeat offenses. The majority of major cities in these states have come on board with smart camera systems, rendering it impossible to evade a traffic signal challan.

Here’s a quick look at the state-wise red light challan fines:

How to Pay Your Red Light Challan?

To pay a red light jump challan is now incredibly easy in 2025. You no longer have to wait in long queues at traffic police stations. Here’s how you can pay your fine

A: Online Payment Process

Step 1: Go to the official e-Challan portal (echallan.parivahan.gov.in) or your state traffic police website

Step 2: Click on “Check Challan Status” or “Pay Challan”

Step 3: Provide your vehicle registration number, challan number, or driving license number

Step 4: Enter captcha code and press “Get Details”

Step 5: Check your challan details and press “Pay Now”

Step 6: Choose your desired payment method – debit card, credit card, UPI, or net banking

Step 7: Make the payment and download your receipt

Once the payment is made, you will get the confirmation message and receipt on your registered mobile number. Ensure that you save this receipt for future use.

B: Offline Payment Option

If you wish to pay the fine offline, head to the traffic police station where your challan was issued, proceed to the challan payment window, give your vehicle details, and make the payment in cash or by card. Don’t forget to get your receipt when the payment is made.

C: Key Payment Platforms

You can pay your red light challan through websites like the Parivahan portal, state traffic police websites, or third-party services. All these platforms have made the whole process smooth and hassle-free.

Conclusion 

Jumping a red light might save you a few seconds, but the risk far outweighs any small advantage. With AI-enabled surveillance systems now monitoring all the important intersections in Indian cities, evading a red light jumping challan in 2025 is next to impossible.

The penalties have become steep – ₹1,000 to ₹2,000 for a single offence isn’t loose change for anyone. Further still, the implications go beyond mere finances. Your driving history, insurance rate, and licence status are all on the line.

So the next time you are about to hurry through an amber light or try to sneak behind a red signal, recall the following: the couple of seconds you save are not worth the red light signal penalty, the points on your driving licence, or the danger to yourself and other people. Hold on the brakes, wait for the green signal, and arrive safely. That’s one decision you would never regret. 

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