LAGOS: Traffic offenders to be arrested at home, pay fines within seven days

The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority has begun the enforcement of the road traffic law, using the new method of booking offenders on the spot and allowing them to continue their journey without seizing the vehicle.

The offenders are to be given seven days to pay their fines, after which they will be arrested at home.

At the test run of the exercise, which kicked off at the Ojota area of the state on Friday, four drivers and their vehicles were arrested for allegedly violating the traffic law

The vehicles comprised two commercial buses with number plates, AGL 109 XA and JJJ 7775 XJ. Also, a Honda car ─ FST 914 AX ─ and a Toyota Camry ─ EJ 54 KIJ ─ were booked for traffic offences, but were all allowed to go with their vehicles.

The General Manager of LASTMA, Bashir Braimah, explained that the decision to allow the vehicles to go was part of the policy of the Governor Akinwumi Ambode-led government.

He said, “The non-accommodation approach of offenders’ vehicles after booking will send signals to drivers and those who engage in transportation that the Road Traffic Law is still in existence and must be obeyed at all times. What changed is the method of implementation of the law.

“The new approach will work because there will be no hidden place for traffic violators as the offenders are expected to make payment of their various fines within the docket of seven days and present their tickets at LASTMA offices. Failure to comply means that they will be arrested at home after the expiration of the grace.

“To those not registered in the state, there is a working synergy between the agency and other sister agencies across the federation. Therefore no traffic offender will go unpunished.”

Braimah said traffic bottleneck was gradually retuning to the state due to the excesses of motorists, particularly commercial and truck drivers.

“Commercial and truck drivers are fond of flouting traffic rules and regulations, driving in direction prohibited by law, turning every nook and cranny of the state into parks rather than using the dedicated bus tops or parks and posing a serious security threat to lives and property,” he added.

The LASTMA boss said the agency would not fold its arms and allow the impunity to continue on Lagos roads.