Juvenile Court heard.

And the 14-year-old whom Magistrate Carlisle Greaves fined the maximum $168 for each of three traffic offences took a deep breath when he was told he would not be allowed to ride cycles until he was 17.

Mr. Greaves warned him he could have had to work for the rest of his life to pay the medical expenses if he injured someone while riding without insurance.

"Insurance is a serious thing!'' Mr. Greaves told the Pembroke boy. "$168 for riding under age, $168 for riding an unlicensed cycle, and $168 for no insurance.'' The boy threw his head back when Mr. Greaves said: "Disqualified from holding any vehicle licence until you are 17. You're growing up too fast. We're going to slow you down a bit.'' To the boy's parents, the Magistrate said: "I want this gentleman to pay his own fines. I want him to understand that his parents can't be picking up after him.'' Prosecutor Peter Giles said the boy was caught on Serpentine Road, Pembroke at 9 p.m. on February 4.

He was caught after a short chase when entering a junction and "looked at the officers in a mobile patrol'' and accelerated away on the cycle.