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Traffic cops have `minor` problem: The Pioneer
New Delhi, May 30:With schools closed and examination results out, Delhi Traffic police have a job at hand. For, it is during this time of the year that the traffic police are forced to keep an extra watch on teenagers driving without helmets, and often without licenses.
New Delhi, May 30: With schools closed and examination results out, Delhi Traffic police have a job at hand. For, it is during this time of the year that the traffic police are forced to keep an extra watch on teenagers driving without helmets, and often without licenses.
Though traffic officials believe, such vigil forms part of their routine work throughout the year, they agree that an extra caution is maintained during holidays, especially in the months of May and June. As schools are closed, children tend to venture out with their two wheelers or cars along with their friends. What is surprising, said an official is that parents seem to connive with the negligence of their children. Driving without a license is punishable and if the person is a minor the punishment is stringent, he added.
According to the police rule-book, a minor can be charged under three sections of the Motor Vehicles Act. A minor who is caught driving attracts a penalty of Rs 500. If the driver of the vehicle possesses no driving license, the fine compounds to Rs 1000.
In such circumstances, if the vehicle does not belong to the person driving it he may well be inviting more trouble. For, as per Section 5/180 of the MV Act allowing an unauthorized person (i.e one with no driving license) to drive the vehicle, is an offence attracting fine of Rs 1,000. Thus, teenagers end up paying more for a simple mistake.
According to traffic officials, the drive is already under way and in the month of May alone (till date), over 38 minors have been booked for driving without license. Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Maxwell Pereira said, "Drives against minors who drive is part of our routine through the year. Many children drive to schools in their vehicles as a sign of bravado. However, during summer holidays there is possibility that such offences may increase. To curb it, the police keeps an added vigil inside colonies". For this purpose the traffic police have had meetings with Residents Welfare Associations (RWA) in colonies. Mr Pereira said, "Since police cannot be stationed everytime inside colonies, we have asked elders of RWAs to report to the police about instances of minor driving, etc".
In it's drive launched in 2002 the traffic police concentrated on triple riding, driving without helmet and minor driving. Over 13,000 persons were fined during the months of May and June in 2002. While 223 minors who were caught driving were penalised during the same period.
Though traffic officials believe, such vigil forms part of their routine work throughout the year, they agree that an extra caution is maintained during holidays, especially in the months of May and June. As schools are closed, children tend to venture out with their two wheelers or cars along with their friends. What is surprising, said an official is that parents seem to connive with the negligence of their children. Driving without a license is punishable and if the person is a minor the punishment is stringent, he added.
According to the police rule-book, a minor can be charged under three sections of the Motor Vehicles Act. A minor who is caught driving attracts a penalty of Rs 500. If the driver of the vehicle possesses no driving license, the fine compounds to Rs 1000.
In such circumstances, if the vehicle does not belong to the person driving it he may well be inviting more trouble. For, as per Section 5/180 of the MV Act allowing an unauthorized person (i.e one with no driving license) to drive the vehicle, is an offence attracting fine of Rs 1,000. Thus, teenagers end up paying more for a simple mistake.
According to traffic officials, the drive is already under way and in the month of May alone (till date), over 38 minors have been booked for driving without license. Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Maxwell Pereira said, "Drives against minors who drive is part of our routine through the year. Many children drive to schools in their vehicles as a sign of bravado. However, during summer holidays there is possibility that such offences may increase. To curb it, the police keeps an added vigil inside colonies". For this purpose the traffic police have had meetings with Residents Welfare Associations (RWA) in colonies. Mr Pereira said, "Since police cannot be stationed everytime inside colonies, we have asked elders of RWAs to report to the police about instances of minor driving, etc".
In it's drive launched in 2002 the traffic police concentrated on triple riding, driving without helmet and minor driving. Over 13,000 persons were fined during the months of May and June in 2002. While 223 minors who were caught driving were penalised during the same period.