A "drink and drive challan" is the fine ticket police give you if you are caught driving after drinking alcohol. It is not a small fine. It is a serious legal case, and it can cost you money, your licence, and even your freedom.
What does the law say?
Under Section 185 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, you are not allowed to drive if your blood alcohol level is more than 30 mg per 100 ml of blood. Police test this using a breath analyser (breathalyser) at check posts.
If your alcohol level is above this limit, you are breaking the law — even if you feel fine to drive.
How much is the fine?
First offence: Fine up to ₹10,000, and/or jail up to 6 months
Second offence (within 3 years): Fine up to ₹15,000, and/or jail up to 2 years
This fine is the same for cars, bikes, autos, and commercial vehicles. Police can also seize your vehicle on the spot, and in serious or repeat cases, your driving licence can be sent to the RTO for suspension.
Is this really happening in Bangalore?
Yes, very often. Bengaluru Traffic Police run special drunk-driving drives almost every week across all 53 traffic police stations in the city. In one week-long drive in July 2026, police checked over 82,000 vehicles and booked 1,211 people for drunk driving. During the year-end crackdown from December 22 to January 1, police stopped over 3.3 lakh vehicles and booked 4,651 drunk-driving cases across the city, with the highest numbers coming from nightlife areas like Koramangala and Indiranagar.
This shows one thing clearly — Bangalore traffic police are actively checking for this, every single week, not just once in a while.
How to check or pay your challan
If you think you have a challan, or want to check your driving record, you can do this on the official government portal:
Check and pay challan: Parivahan e-Challan portal
Check your driving licence status: Parivahan Sewa
Never pay a challan through an unknown link or a stranger. Always use the official Parivahan website only.
What happens if your licence gets suspended?
If your licence is suspended after a drink-and-drive case, you cannot legally drive until the suspension period is over. After that, you may need to apply for a duplicate licence or get your record updated at the RTO. If you are in Bangalore and need help with this once your suspension period ends, Upride's guide to renewing a Learner's Licence in Bangalore is a good starting point for understanding the RTO process again.
A simple warning: please don't drink and drive
This is not just about the fine. Drunk driving is one of the biggest causes of road accidents and deaths in India. A fine can be paid. A life lost in an accident cannot be brought back.
If you have had a drink:
Do not drive. Not even "a little bit."
Book a cab, or ask a sober friend or family member to drive.
Keep a friend's number saved for emergency pickups on nights out.
Never let a friend drive after drinking — take their keys if you have to.
The safest choice always feels small in the moment, but it protects you, your family, and everyone else on the road.
This article is for general information. For the latest rules and to check your own challan or licence status, always use the official Parivahan portal.