AI image, for representation only
Hubballi: Parents who allow their minor children to drive vehicles in the twin cities should be prepared to pay a fine of up to Rs 25,000, as the police department has intensified enforcement against underage driving. Sources said police booked 24 cases against parents in the last nine months and collected Rs 5.1 lakh in fines through court orders for allowing minors to drive vehicles. During the same period, police also registered 739 cases involving vehicles without number plates and collected Rs 3.7 lakh in fines. Referring to a recent case, Borase said police detected a minor riding recklessly near CBT on Oct 23 and filed a case against the parents. Following a hearing, the court imposed a fine of Rs 25,000 on them.
Police commissioner Bhushan Borase told TOI, “We are now acting tough against parents for allowing their wards to drive vehicles. We are also tracking vehicles without number plates and taking action against violators,” he said. Borase said the proposed AI-based integrated traffic management system (ITMS) will further strengthen enforcement by helping police detect more cases of underage driving and vehicles operating without number plates.
The move comes amid rising complaints of rash driving by minors and vehicles being ridden without number plates. Police have also found minors riding vehicles belonging to their parents, relatives and friends, in clear violation of traffic rules. Such incidents have become increasingly common across the city. Though allowing minors to ride bikes or other vehicles is an offence, many parents continue to ignore government norms and permit their children to use vehicles. However, the department has now decided to strictly enforce the law and hold parents accountable. This not only puts lives at risk but is also a gross violation of traffic norms. We have started identifying minors riding vehicles within our limits and are imposing fines on their parents through the court. “This is not an isolated case. Several such cases have been registered in recent months.
Earlier, police would often impose a nominal fine or issue a warning when minors were caught riding.