(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.
Legal Commentary & Landmark Judgments: Section 201
Section 201 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 penalizes causing obstructions to the free flow of traffic on public roads, empowering enforcement authorities to remove disabled or improperly parked vehicles, recover hourly obstruction fines, and levy mandatory tow-away charges.
If a vehicle is towed under Section 201, demand an itemized breakdown of the towing fee and hourly impediment fine. If authorities damaged the vehicle during improper hydraulic towing or towed it from an authorized designated parking bay without signage, file a complaint before the Senior Superintendent of Traffic or consumer forum for compensatory restitution.