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Man allows minor brother to ride bike: Kerala court sentences him to jail and imposes Rs. 34,000 fine

minor kid on bike

Underage driving and riding are serious issues. In many parts of the country, we witness children riding scooters and cars on public roads. Underage driving or riding is illegal and can easily lead to legal troubles for the vehicle owner. If caught, the police can seize the vehicle and take legal action against the owner. In one such incident, the Kerala High Court sentenced a person to simple imprisonment until the rising of the court and imposed a fine of Rs 34,000 for allowing his minor brother to ride a two-wheeler.

Man allows minor brother to ride bike: Kerala court sentences him to jail and imposes Rs. 34,000 fine
Minor riding bike- representational pic

In the State vs Roshan Shiju case, the Ernakulam Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Naina K.V. examined the details and stated that the registration of the vehicle, which the minor was riding, would be cancelled for a period of 12 months. The driving license of the person who allowed the minor to ride the two-wheeler would also be suspended for 3 months. The court also alleged that the minor rode the two-wheeler with the consent of the adult. Not only was the minor riding the vehicle, but the registration plates at the front and rear of the vehicle were also not displayed.

Furthermore, the authorities alleged that the two-wheeler lacked a saree guard, turn indicators, or rear-view mirrors. These safety features are essential for any vehicle used on our roads. After reviewing the details and evidence, the court found the accused guilty. The accused in the case was punished under section 199A, which pertains to offenses by juveniles, section 199(4), which deals with the cancellation of registration of a motor vehicle used in the commission of an offense by a juvenile for a period of twelve months, section 180, which addresses allowing unauthorized persons to drive vehicles, and section 194(c), which imposes penalties for violating safety measures for motorcyclists and pillion riders, as well as Rule 102(1), which concerns signaling devices, direction indicators, and stop lights, and section 125(2), which mandates the presence of rear-view mirrors on all motor vehicles. These are in accordance with the Central Motor Vehicles Rules and Section 177 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, which provides general provisions for the punishment of offenses.

Man allows minor brother to ride bike: Kerala court sentences him to jail and imposes Rs. 34,000 fine
Kerala High Court

This case serves as a perfect example of why you should not allow your underage sibling or child to drive or ride two-wheelers or four-wheelers. It has actually become a recent trend among some individuals, who let their children drive cars on public roads and even record and share videos of these incidents on social media platforms. In most cases, these violations go unnoticed by the authorities. If you genuinely want your child to practice driving or riding a motorcycle, we recommend doing it on private property or a track. By allowing children to drive on public roads, parents are not only endangering the lives of their own child but also the lives of other road users. Driving or riding is a responsible task, and the legal age to obtain a driving license in India is 18 years.