Nagpur: Courts convicted 26 parents or vehicle owners in Nagpur till August this year in cases where they allowed minors to drive motor vehicles, with each case attracting a total fine of 30,000 and suspension of the driving licence for 12 months.The convictions mark a significant escalation in action against parents who hand over vehicles to children who are not legally eligible to drive.The convictions relate to cases registered by the Nagpur city traffic police in 2026 as part of its drive to prevent minors from driving and reduce the risk of road accidents. The drive is being carried out under the leadership of DCP (Traffic) Aditya Mirkhelkar.The police have maintained that responsibility cannot rest solely with the minor found behind the wheel, and that parents or vehicle owners who permit such driving must also face legal consequences.Under Section 199A of the Motor Vehicles Act, a fine of 25,000 was imposed in each of the convicted cases. Further, action under Section 199(4) resulted in cancellation or disqualification of the driving licence for 12 months. With the additional penalty, the total fine in each case stands at 30,000.Traffic police officials said allowing a minor to drive is particularly dangerous as an underage driver does not have a valid licence and may not have the physical and mental maturity required to handle traffic conditions and emergencies. A seemingly routine decision by parents to allow their children to use a two-wheeler or car can therefore expose both the child and other road users to serious risks.The convictions come against the backdrop of continued cases involving minors driving in the city. More than 125 parents have faced FIRs since 2025 after their minor children were caught driving. Police had booked 77 parents in 2025, while more than 48 FIRs had been registered against parents till August this year, compared with 33 during the corresponding period last year.Despite the repeated cases, traffic police officials said parental involvement remains a key factor in preventing minors from driving. They have appealed to parents and vehicle owners not to hand over vehicle keys to underage children and warned that strict legal action would continue against those permitting minors to drive.The police said the objective of the action is not merely to impose penalties but to deter parents from allowing minors to take the wheel and prevent potentially fatal road accidents.
