Section 218 in The West Bengal Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989
218. Prohibition of playing of radio etc., in a motor vehicle.
(1)No radio set, gramophone or microphone, tape recorder/cassette recorder with or without loud speaker, video set or portable television shall be installed or operated in any motor vehicle other than a motor car, save and except in the case as provided for under sub-rule (6) of this rule.(2)No person shall wear earphones while driving any motor vehicle.(3)No radio set/video set/gramophone/microphone/cassette recorder or any other apparatus to display and object on the screen with or without provision for amplification of any sound, voice etc., shall be operated while the motor vehicle is moving within the limits of the city of [Kolkata] [Substituted vide section 5 of the West Bengal Capital City (Change of Name) Act, 2001 (West Bengal Act 18 of 2001) (w.e.f. 1.1.2001) for the Word 'Calcutta'.] (including suburbs) and Howrah Municipal Corporation and any municipality.(4)No radio set or video set, gramophone or microphone or cassette recorder or any other apparatus to display and object on the screen with or without provision for amplification of any sound or voice etc. in a motor vehicle shall be operated in such a way as to be a nuisance to the public.(5)No television set or video shall befitted or kept on or near the dash-board of a motor car on other vehicle as provided under sub-rule (6), within the view of the driver.(6)A radio set, gramophone or microphone, tape recorder/cassette recorder, video set or any other apparatus to display any object on the screen with provision for amplification of human voice may be provided and operated in tourist coach or de-luxe buses covered under a Contract Carriage permit in a tourist vehicle, tourist motor cab or in any omnibus including a Private Service Vehicle or an educational institution bus or long distance inter-regional stage carriages subject to the approval of the Transport Authority granting the permit and shall be securely placed facing the passengers, on the partition in between the driver's cabin and passengers' compartment and shall be so arranged that the display on the screen or the sound or both are not visible or audible to the driver.(7)Permission to provide for the apparatus in accordance with sub-rule (1) or (6) of this rule shall be subject to the payment of the fee in the scale as prescribed in the Schedule F and on an inspection being made by the Authority granting the permit in the manner as it considers necessary.Explanation. - If a radio set, gramophone or microphone. tape recorder/cassette recorder, with or without loud speaker, a video set or any apparatus to display on the screen is operated in such a way as to be clearly audible at a distance of more than 305 centimetres from the centre, it shall be deemed to be a nuisance to the public.(8)The State Government may grant a special permit for the use of radio, gramophone or microphone, tape/cassette recorder with or without loud speaker in specially equipped motor vehicle used for publicity, educational or traffic purposes and for such other purpose as may be deemed necessary on payment of fees prescribed in Schedule F.
