Underage driving is booked under Section 199A of the Motor Vehicles Act, under which the vehicle owner faces a fine of Rs 25,000 and imprisonment of up to three years
Kochi : Amid growing concern over juveniles driving in violation of traffic rules, the motor vehicles department (MVD) has registered 49 cases involving underage drivers in the state since 2024. Twelve of these were registered this year.
Underage driving is booked under Section 199A of the Motor Vehicles Act , under which the vehicle owner faces a fine of Rs 25,000 and imprisonment of up to three years. The underage driver must also pay a fine of Rs 5,000 for driving without a licence. The vehicle’s registration can be cancelled for a year, and the juvenile cannot obtain a driving or learner’s licence until the age of 25.
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MVD officials said the low number does not mean underage driving is uncommon. Many underage drivers also avoid main roads and stick to byroads near their homes, making them harder to catch, an officer said. Unfortunately, that is not happening,” said another MVD official.
Rather, it reflects the difficulty enforcement teams face in intercepting juveniles and verifying their age. Cases registered under Section 199A are forwarded to the courts, which decide the penalty. “Courts generally do not give the maximum punishment in such serious cases. Instead, they tend to limit the penalty to fine and direct the vehicle owner to remain on the court premises until the specific time. Imposing maximum punishment stipulated in the law in cases of underage driving or in drunk driving cases could serve as a deterrent. Download the TOI App.