Punjab recently enacted major changes for drivers across the province. Governor Sardar Saleem Haider Khan signed the Provincial Motor Vehicle Amendment Bill 2026. This new legislation completely repeals the stringent Provincial Motor Vehicle (Fourth Amendment) Ordinance 2025. Consequently, the Punjab government drastically reduced traffic fines and entirely abolished prison sentences for several major traffic violations.
Punjab Traffic Fines Dropped Massively
Previously, drivers faced exorbitant financial penalties and potential jail time for everyday infractions. The new amendment heavily downgrades these punishments. Therefore, motorists will no longer face the threat of imprisonment for licensing issues, one-way violations, or overloading.
Here is a complete breakdown of the revised traffic penalties:
| Traffic Violation | Previous Penalty (Ordinance 2025) | New Penalty (Amendment Bill 2026) |
| Licensing Offenses | Rs. 50,000 – 100,000 + Imprisonment | Rs. 5,000 – 10,000 (No Jail) |
| One-Way Violations | Rs. 50,000 or 6 Months Jail or Both | Rs. 5,000 (No Jail) |
| Underage Driving | Rs. 50,000 + 6 Months Jail | Rs. 10,000 + Vehicle Confiscation |
| No Fitness Certificate | Rs. 50,000 or 6 Months Jail* | Rs. 5,000 (Restricted Driving) |
| Overloading (Public Transit) | Rs. 50,000 or 6 Months Jail | Rs. 5,000 (No Jail) |
Note: Repeat offenders driving without a fitness certificate previously faced up to 2 years imprisonment and additional fines.
Strict Rules for Confiscated Vehicles
The financial burden has decreased. However, law enforcement still maintains strict operational rules for specific violations. For instance, authorities will immediately confiscate vehicles driven by underage individuals. Furthermore, police will only hand the confiscated vehicle back to the legal owner or an authorized representative. This person must hold a valid driving license.
Similarly, vehicles operating without a valid fitness certificate face strict movement limits. Authorities will fine the driver Rs. 5,000. Subsequently, the driver can only legally drive that specific vehicle directly to an official inspection station.
Additionally, the amendment specifically addresses dangerous practices on public service vehicles. The new Rs. 5,000 fine directly applies to overloading. Specifically, this penalizes situations where passengers ride on vehicle roofs or hang from the sides of the transport.
