PETALING JAYA, March 14 — A staggering 4,713 owners of motorcycles, mostly parents, have been hauled up in a nationwide police crackdown on teenagers riding without licence.

The number of deaths and traffic offences involving these teenagers has reached a worrisome stage with many even joining Mat Rempit in illegal road races.

The swoop on the children, mostly under aged, began in January last year to target the increasing number of children illegally riding bikes, especially to go to school.

Since February 2 this year, 721 owners were rounded up, prompting Federal traffic police chief, Datuk Mohd Fuad Abd Latif, to declare: "It's harsh for me to say, but parents please do not kill your children on the roads."

Mohd Fuad pointed to three recent cases of students in Kedah who were killed while riding their bikes.

He said police were aware that students have been involved in minor accidents that go unreported.

Many are also known to have joined Mat Rempit in illegal road races, he said.

Last year, there were 428 cases involving under aged bikers in illegal road races while 632 cases were recorded the previous year.

Mohd Fuad said police will not relent in their action to target teen bikers as the purpose is also to raise awareness that youths should abide by the rules at a young age.

"Old habits die hard and the way we conduct ourselves on the road has to change."

Parents and motorcycle owners, who knowingly allow a teenager without a licence to take to the road, are being taught a lesson:

‣ They have to pay a RM300 fine for allowing a person without licence to ride the machine and an additional RM300 that has to be paid by the rider.

‣ Those unable to pay the RM600 will have their bikes confiscated by the police.

‣ If the fines are not settled within three months, the machines will be auctioned.

They will also have to face the embarrassment of going to the police station to pay the fines and get the children released.