Parents to be put in jail if underage kids drive

NAGPUR: With just a fortnight left for schools to reopen, Nagpur city traffic police have rolled out a plan to send parents to prison if they allow minor children to drive. The move was planned to curb the growing menace of underage driving, and this time we will book underage riders and their parents under section 279 of Indian Penal Code, said deputy commissioner of police (traffic) Gajanan Rajmane.
Rajmane said minors caught for the first time will be given a compulsory counselling session along with their parents, or whosoever is the registered owner of the vehicle, apart from action under the Motor Vehicles Act. “If a minor is caught the second time, we will charge the parents under the Indian Penal Code,” the DCP said. Rajmane added that as per law minors are not supposed to drive any vehicle as they pose great risk to not just themselves but to the lives of others too.
This time, police have formed special teams in all eight zones. The teams will be posted near various schools and colleges, and take action against minors and youngsters driving vehicles without licence or violating traffic rules. Besides this, the traffic police have also started sending letters to principals of educational institutions (both schools and colleges) to ensure students of their institutions follow traffic rules.
“We have set a format for educational institutions to take note of what students must ensure while riding or driving to their institutions in a vehicle. This includes valid driving licence, helmet, registered vehicle, pollution under control certificate etc,” he said.
To a query, a senior traffic police officer said that in the last five months, the traffic police caught 65 minors and initiated action against their parents under relevant sections of the Motor Vehicles Act. Besides, the traffic police have started confiscating two-wheelers if the riders do not possess driving licences. When parents arrive to pick up the vehicle, the police fine the youngster and their parents Rs500 each.
Also, traffic cops are regularly inspecting vehicle documents at different checkpoints to curb the growing incidents of joyrides by youngsters.
TOI has been highlighting the number of two-wheeler riders is the highest among those involved in fatal road mishaps. The number of youngsters involved in various road accidents is also high. The state home department has also directed police to take action against underage drivers.
PRESENT ACTION
Police book the minors and parents under Sections 180 (allowing unauthorized persons to drive vehicles) and 181 (driving vehicles in contravention of section 3 (necessity for driving licence) or section 4 (age limit in connection with driving of motor vehicles) of the Motor Vehicles Act of 1988
FUTURE ACTION
Police will book underage riders and parents under section 279 of IPC along with Motor Vehicles Act. Under 279 of IPC, a violator can be sentenced to jail term up to six months or fine which may extend to Rs1,000 or both