Owner Fined as Minor Found Driving Tipper and Earthmover

Fast Summary

• Teh Motor Vehicles department fined a vehicle owner ₹10,000 after a video showed a 17-year-old boy operating heavy vehicles (a tipper truck and an earthmover machine).
• The owner, identified as Kunjumon from Kaviyoor near Thiruvalla, was also directed to complete three days of social service at a government hospital.
• The minor involved is a Plus Two student from Kuttapuzha who revealed during a police investigation that he had operated the vehicles and posted videos on social media.
• The videos were examined by Thiruvalla police as part of an inquiry into an unrelated harassment complaint against the boy. Police submitted their findings to the Joint RTO for action.
• Investigations found the vehicle owner guilty of allowing the minor to operate machinery, with videos showing activity at an excavation site in Kuttoor.

Indian Opinion Analysis
This incident raises concerns about safety protocols and responsibility in operating heavy machinery in India. Allowing minors to drive such vehicles not only endangers lives but also reflects inadequate enforcement of laws surrounding heavy equipment use.The Motor Vehicles department’s decision to impose both financial penalties and mandatory public service highlights efforts to curb such risky behaviors while promoting accountability among vehicle owners.

Moreover, this case underscores how online platforms can bring reckless activities into public view but also serve as tools for accountability when tracked appropriately by authorities. Stricter regulations and awareness campaigns regarding operational safety-especially involving minors-could help prevent similar episodes in the future.

Read more: Published – July 15, 2025