Section 18 — Fees for services or benefits rendered on highways

(1) No vehicle shall enter or use a highway without payment of fee levied under sub-section (2) in the form and manner prescribed by the State Government or in accordance with any exemption thereof, and it shall be the duty of the owner or occupier of a vehicle to tender such fee in the form and manner prescribed by the State Government. (2) The State Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, levy fees at such rates as may be laid down by rules made in this behalf for services or benefits rendered in relation to the use of highways or parts thereof, including the use of ferries, permanent bridges, temporary bridges or tunnels. (3) Such fees when so levied shall be collected in accordance with the rules made under this Act And any person who in any manner avoids or evades the collection of fees shall, without prejudice to any other provisions of this Act, be liable to payment of a fine equal to one third of the fees payble by such person. (4) Any fee leviable immediately before the commencement of this Act for services or benefits rendered in relation to the use of a highway shall continue to be leviable under this Act unless and until it is altered in exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (2). (5) The State Government may exempt vehicles engaged in defence, security, law and order, fire fighting, crime prevention, medical emergencies or such other public purposes, as it may prescribe, from payment of fees under this section.