Police to act tough on underage bike riders

NT Correspondent
Bengaluru

In its drive against rising traffic violations, Bengaluru Traffic Police (BTP) has come up with a stern instruction against the use of two-wheelers by minors in the city. The traffic officials claim that they have come across many instances of minors involved in stunt riding.

A special team of police, who is keeping an eye on the social media platforms, have found video clips (reels) showing minors performing wheelies and stunts on two-wheelers. According to the police, most of them are still pursuing their Pre-University Course (PUC), and have not been issued a driving licence. Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic) B.R. Ravikanthe Gowda explained that since these youngsters are studying in PUC and lower classes, they are not 18 years old and hence not eligible for a driving licence.

“Any minor caught using a scooter or bike amounts to violation and action will be taken against them,” he warned. He said the college administration has been instructed to ensure that minor students do not bring vehicles to colleges. The top cop also said that it is the duty of the parents to stop their children from riding vehicles in the very first place.

“Most parents we talk to at the time of counselling after we catch their children on roads, complain that their son or daughter was very stubborn and so they were forced into letting them drive the vehicle. Some parents blame the bad condition of public transport and say it is easier for their children to use personal vehicles to go to school,” said a traffic police inspector.

The police official blamed the parents for pampering their children. “Parents need to be more careful while allowing their children to drive a motorized vehicle. Driving without a licence is a punishable offence as per The Motor Vehicles Act, 1988,” the police inspector added.

Traffic police have registered 14 cases of wheeling in a special operation across the city last week. Out of these, 12 cases were registered after spotting the videos uploaded on social media platforms. A case under Section 107 of the IPC will be registered against such youths.

Last week a city-based reel creator was slapped a fine of Rs 17,500 for flouting various traffic rules while riding and creating stunt videos. “Some of these kids perform stunts to impress their friends, others do it in order to obtain likes and attention from other people,” a senior traffic police said.