Hyderabad: Big trouble for drunk driving minors as parents too will face jail

Hyderabad: While minors who are booked for drunken driving will not only be prosecuted, the traffic police will write to the managements of their schools or colleges to temporarily rusticate them.

As per Section 36 (g) (1) of the Excise Act, managements of wine shops, bars and restaurants will face three months’ imprisonment or '5,000 fine or both if they sell liquor to minors (below 21 years).

When minors are booked for drunken driving, the traffic police, in the chargesheets, make even the wine shop, bar or restaurant as a party involved in the overall offence. They will also write to the Excise Department to cancel the licence of these wine shops, bar and restaurants.

Traffic cops said they would also write to the employers and managements of private and government employees in cases of motorists booked for drunken driving on multiple occasions.

Parents of minors booked for drunken driving are also being called for three-day counselling. They are being told to be on the lookout for their children driving under the influence of alcohol, particularly during school and college hours.

The traffic police, however, can only suggest action and it is up to the managements of educational institutions and employers to take action.

Parents too will face jail
“The traffic cops will continue to book cases of drunken driving during day as well as night. But it is the responsibility of parents, schools and colleges and employers to take action so that it acts as a deterrent,” said DCP (Traffic) L.S. Chowhan.

“If we book minors for driving without licence, then parents or others who gave their vehicles would also be booked. In such cases, the parents and vehicle owners will face imprisonment of one-and-a-half months,” Mr Chowhan said. In major accidents cops will ask not to give clearance for passports.