MVA Section 201: Penalty for causing obstruction to free flow of traffic
Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 · Chapter 13: OFFENCES, PENALTIES AND PROCEDURE
¶201. Penalty for causing obstruction to free flow of traffic.—(1) Whoever keeps a *** vehicle on any public place, in such a manner, so as to cause impediment to the free flow of traffic, shall be liable for penalty up to [five hundred rupees], so long as it remains in that position:
Provided that the vehicle involved in accidents shall be liable for penalty only from the time of completion of inspection formalities under the law: [Provided further that where the vehicle is removed by [an agency authorised by the Central Government or State Government, removal charges] shall be recovered from the vehicle owner or person in-charge of such vehicle.] [(2) Penalties or [removal charges] under this section shall be recovered by such officer or authority as the State Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, authorise.] [(3) Sub-section (1) shall not apply where the motor vehicle has suffered an unforeseen breakdown and is in the process of being removed.] [Explanation.—For the purposes of this section, “removal charges” includes any costs involved in the removal of the motor vehicle from one location to another and also includes any costs related to storage of such motor vehicle.]
Study: explanations and related material
Official reference: India Code, Government of India — edition as on 15 August 2026 — source review: 2 October 2026.Recorded edition / snapshot date: 2026-08-15.Banaka reference transcription, not an official or certified edition. General central text: regional amendment blocks are not consolidated. This edition includes Jan Vishwas 2026 changes effective 15 August 2026. Amendment brackets are retained; footnotes and superscript reference numerals are excluded. Consult the complete government PDF for schedules, amendment notes and authoritative wording. State rules and notifications may differ. Hindi guides are original explanations, not a statutory translation.Read the original schedule and amendment notes
This text is for reference, not legal advice. Consult the official source for the authoritative text.
Other sections in this chapter
- 177. General provision for punishment of offences
- 177A. Penalty for contravention of regulations under section 118
- 178. Penalty for travelling without pass or ticket and for dereliction of duty on the part of conductor and refusal to ply contract carriage, etc
- 179. Disobedience of orders, obstruction and refusal of information
- 180. Allowing unauthorised persons to drive vehicles
- 181. Driving vehicles in contravention of section 3 or section 4
- 182. Offences relating to licences
- 182A. Punishment for offences relating to construction, maintenance, sale and alteration of motor vehicles and components
- 182B. Penalty for contravention of section 62A
- 183. Driving at excessive speed, etc
- 184. Driving dangerously
- 185. Driving by a drunken person or by a person under the influence of drugs
- 186. Driving when mentally or physically unfit to drive
- 187. Punishment for offences relating to accident
- 188. Punishment for abetment of certain offences
- 189. Racing and trials of speed
- 190. Using vehicle in unsafe condition
- 191. [Omitted]
- 192. Using vehicle without registration
- 192A. Using vehicle without permit
- 192B. Offences relating to registration
- 193. Punishment of agents, canvassers and aggregators without proper authority
- 194. Driving vehicle exceeding permissible weight
- 194A. Carriage of excess passengers
- 194B. Use of safety belts and the seating of children
- 194C. Penalty for violation of safety measures for motor cycle drivers and pillion riders
- 194D. Penalty for not wearing protective headgear
- 194E. Failure to allow free passage to emergency vehicles
- 194F. Use of horns and silence zones
- 195. [Omitted]
- 196. Driving uninsured vehicle
- 197. Taking vehicle without authority
- 198. Unauthorised interference with vehicle
- 198A. Failure to comply with standards for road design, construction and maintenance
- 199. Offences by companies
- 199A. Offences by juveniles
- 199B. Revision of fines and penalties
- 200. Composition of certain offences
- 202. Power to arrest without warrant
- 203. Breath tests
- 204. Laboratory test
- 205. Presumption of unfitness to drive
- 206. Power of police officer to impound document
- 207. Power to detain vehicles used without certificate of registration permit, etc
- 208. Summary disposal of cases
- 209. Restriction on conviction
- 210. Courts to send intimation about conviction
- 210A. Power of State Government to increase fines or penalties
- 210B. Penalty for offence committed by an enforcing authority
- 210C. Power of Central Government to make rules
- 210D. Power of State Government to make rules