Four parents had to go to jail after their minor children were caught riding two-wheelers. Police caught the minors — who are from Bahadurpura, Malakpet and Asifnagar — during routine vehicle inspection drives in January and February.

Police booked cases against the persons in whose name the vehicles were registered. In all four cases, the fathers of the minors were the ones to face the music, with the court sentencing them to imprisonment.

Of the four cases, three parents had to be behind bars for one day, while one had to serve a two-day sentence, said Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic) AV Ranganath, adding that the punishment for the minors was in the form of fines that they had to pay.

Though the minors in these four cases were not involved in any accidents, City Traffic Police officials say the approach would be the same, or even tougher, if minors driving vehicles got involved in accidents.

“In accidents wherein minors are involved, parents will be held responsible and their roles will be examined during the court hearing,” a senior official said, adding that the police would argue for a stringent approach towards minors driving vehicles and to get the parents punished first.

So this news must alert the parents, who see a charm in giving the vehicles to children who are still not perfect in driving and yet take pride that the child knows good driving skill.