NAROWAL: Sialkot police have initiated a crackdown against underage drivers and imposed 1,397 fines, booked two, and took 98 motorcycles into custody.

Sialkot District Police Officer (DPO) Faisal Shahzad told Dawn that police launched the crackdown to curb underage motorcycle, car and motorcycle rickshaws drivers.

He said that special teams of the traffic police had erected checkpoints in Sambrial, Daska, Pasrur and Sialkot and checked driving licences of motorists. He said the teams fined 1,397 underage drivers in a week.

Police took 98 suspicious and without number plates motorcycles into custody during the crackdown, he said. Police also registered an FIR for serious violations against two drivers, he added.

The DPO said heavy fines were imposed on underage drivers and traffic law violators.

He said traffic violators were fined a total of Rs1m in a week.

Helmets and driving licences were essential and overspeeding, one-wheeling and dangerous stunts on the roads should be discouraged, he said.

Parents should cooperate with the police to reduce accidents and save lives, he said. He said a legal action would be taken against those who violate traffic laws.