The Coimbatore City Traffic Police has collected a fine of Rs. 1,75,000 in the last eight months from those below 18 years for riding motorbikes.

Giving details to Covai Post, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic), S. Saravanan, said 350 students were caught riding motorbikes and “they were all fined. Allowing a minor to ride a vehicle is punishable under Motor Vehicles Act. It could lead to imprisonment up to three months or a fine of Rs. 1000 or both,” he said.

He appealed to parents not to encourage their underage children to ride bikes or two-wheelers. “By allowing their children to ride two-wheelers parents are putting their lives at risk,” he added.

It may be recalled that a Class XI student of a private school was killed on the spot when the bike in which he was riding collided with a truck on the busy Town Hall stretch.