Minor drivers, beware from Monday

CHANDIGARH, April 9: Within days of Kiran Bedi taking over as UT Inspector General of Police, there is bad news for the minors driving ve...

CHANDIGARH, April 9: Within days of Kiran Bedi taking over as UT Inspector General of Police, there is bad news for the minors driving vehicles. From Monday, the Chandigarh Traffic Police will launch a special drive and start prosecution against minors driving vehicles unauthorisedly, that is without valid driving licences.

Bedi told Newsline that the police officers will start moving about the schools and look for those driving unauthorisedly and violating traffic rules.

quot;Many youngsters/minors are riding two-wheelers and driving cars and thus not only endanger their own lives but also pose a potential threat to the safety of other road usersquot;, said a press statement issued today by SP Traffic Balbir Singh.

Under Section 4 of the Central Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, a person in the age group of 16-18 years can drive a vehicle with engine capacity not exceeding 50 cc moped only. For any violation in this section, the person so challaned is liable to pay Rs 500 as fine besides impounding of the vehicle under Section 5 of the Motor Vehicles Act. Under Section 5 of the Act, the owner of the vehicle will be issued a challan for allowing the minor to drive his vehicle, under which the owner shall also have to pay Rs 1,000 as fine.

The Chandigarh Traffic Police has written letters to the principals of all schools in the city requesting them to check the driving licences of the children coming to schools on motor-bikes and to tally their date of birth mentioned in the driving licences with that of the school record. quot;This is to rule out the possibility of a licence issued on the basis of wrong declaration of the date of birth,quot; the release said.

Meanwhile, the traffic police have appealed to the public to make use of complaint/suggestion cards if they have any complaint against the autorickshaw drivers and taxi drivers such as fare meters, overcharging, refusal to carry passengers on meter rates and misbehaviour.

These cards will be distributed to the public and will also be available at all pre-paid fare facility booths at the railway station, ISBT Sector 17 and PGI. Besides, these will also be available at Sector 29 Traffic Lines, reception counter of police headquarters in Sector 9, Sector 23 Children Traffic Park and all police stations and police posts. These cards can be mailed to the SP Traffic, it added.