In order to tackle the increasing incidents of minors driving vehicles, the Pune city police has announced new measures. With immediate effect, all four-wheelers or two-wheelers driven by minors will be impounded by the authorities. These vehicles will be stored at the respective police stations for a period of one year, with a view to preventing further incidents of underage driving.

Previously, the police would usually summon the parents of such offenders and take legal action through the courts. Additional Commissioner of Police Manoj Patil stressed the need for this new approach and said that keeping impounded vehicles at police stations will effectively discourage minors from re-entering and driving them, thereby potentially reducing accidents involving underage drivers.

However, concerns have been raised by road safety activists about the feasibility of this initiative. They point to potential loopholes, such as vehicle owners obtaining court orders to release seized vehicles, which could undermine the intended strict enforcement. In addition, there are logistical challenges, including limited space at police stations to store seized vehicles.

Responding to these concerns, Patil assured that the police would adhere to all judicial guidelines regarding the release of vehicles. He also mentioned that certain police stations have sufficient space to accommodate seized vehicles.

Under Section 199A of the Motor Vehicles Act, which deals with offences committed by minors, the police are not only empowered to impound vehicles used by underage drivers but also to request the Regional Transport Office (RTO) to cancel the registration of such vehicles for 12 months. Furthermore, minors found guilty are not allowed to obtain a driving licence until they attain the age of 25. The same section empowers the police to initiate legal proceedings against parents of underage drivers.

Outlining the enforcement strategy, Patil said that police teams will actively monitor vehicle users, identify underage drivers based on physical appearance and conduct checks on driving licences, vehicle documents and identification cards. Any underage driver caught violating the law will face impoundment of the vehicle, with details shared with the RTO for necessary action. Earlier this year, the traffic wing of Pimpri Chinchwad police launched a targeted operation against minors under 16 years of age who were caught driving two-wheelers. A total of 571 minors were fined in various parts of Pimpri Chinchwad during this initiative.

This decision follows a tragic accident on May 19 in Kalyaninagar, in which a minor driving a Porsche Taycan collided with a motorcycle, resulting in the death of two persons. The youth did not have a valid driving license. The police have registered three separate FIRs – one in connection with the accident and the second against the bar for serving alcohol to the minor. The third is for the wrongful imprisonment of the accused’s family on the family driver to take the blame for the accident.