Courts across Karnataka and Odisha have recently levied substantial fines of Rs. 25,000 on parents and vehicle owners for permitting minors to operate two-wheelers. These actions highlight a growing judicial stance against underage operation of motor vehicles, a practice flagged as a significant road safety concern.
Judicial decisions, particularly from courts in Mysuru, Mudigere, Jewargi, Davanagere, and Bhatkal, have consistently imposed a Rs. 25,000 penalty. This specific penalty amount appears to be a benchmark, applied across various jurisdictions when a vehicle owner or parent is found liable for allowing a minor to ride a two-wheeler. The Motor Vehicles Act, specifically Section 5 read with Section 199(a), has been cited in legal proceedings, underscoring the statutory basis for these fines.
Recent reports from December 2025 indicate multiple instances in Mysuru where traffic police apprehended minors on two-wheelers. In one notable case, the Second Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) Court imposed the Rs. 25,000 fine on a vehicle owner for this infraction. This has been coupled with appeals from city police officials to parents, urging them to prevent such violations. The issue is not new; past incidents, including a tragic fatal accident involving a minor five years ago, have been recalled, underscoring the long-standing nature of the problem.
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Further afield, in April 2026, a Bhatkal court also levied the Rs. 25,000 fine on a vehicle owner for permitting an underage individual to ride. This case involved registration number KA-47/R-8460 and was prosecuted under the Motor Vehicles Act. The authorities have re-emphasized the inherent risks associated with underage driving and the imperative for strict adherence to traffic regulations.
Similar fines have been recorded in other locales:
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In Chikkamagaluru, a Mudigere court imposed Rs. 25,000 on a father in April 2025.
The JMFC court in Jewargi issued a Rs. 25,000 fine in February 2025.
Davanagere courts followed suit in February 2025, with a Rs. 25,000 penalty.
Even as far as Odisha, in March 2023, the State Transport Authority (STA) officials fined two juveniles Rs. 25,000 each for riding two-wheelers in Rayagada town.
These actions signal a trend where the consequence for enabling underage vehicle operation is a significant financial penalty, aiming to deter a practice viewed as detrimental to public safety and a violation of established legal frameworks governing motor vehicle usage.
