Lagos to charge N100,000 fine, one year imprisonment for driving under influence of alcohol, drugs

The Lagos state’s commissioner of Police Hakeem Odumosu, has spoken of tougher traffic rules that will bring sanity to Lagos roads.

He has listed 80 offences if violated would attract heavy fines and various terms of imprisonment.

He mentioned that it would be difficult for offenders to go Scot free as inter-agency collaboration of all security and law enforcement agencies within the State to ensure strict enforcement.

The Monitoring and Enforcement Coordination Committee he said would be headed by Lagos Sate’s former Commissioner for Transport Kayode Opeifa. The committee is created to monitor and enforce all the new executive orders and other existing laws of the state.

Lagos State Government he said had resolved to put an end to lawlessness among members of the community and that Lagos of today won’t condone their lawlessness. We are together now in synergy, putting all our resources together to go after the lawbreakers in the society.

He also mentioned the fact that there would be more presence of mobile courts to ensure swift prosecution of Traffic offenders.

But What are these Traffic offences you should be cautious of?

The Lagos State Road Traffic law 2012 is the Supervening enactment for Road and traffic offences in Lagos State. Schedule I to the law contains a list of said offences and their punishments which are now enforceable. They are:

  1. Violation of Routes by Commercial Vehicles

Penalty: 1st offender N20,000.00 | Subsequent offender N30,000.00

Additional: Impound vehicle in addition to counseling and enlightenment by LASDRI (Lagos State Drivers’ Institute)

  1. Non Display of Route and Route Number on Vehicle

Penalty: 1st offender N20,000.00 | Subsequent offender N30,000.00

Additional: N/A

  1. Disobeying Traffic Control Personnel

Penalty: 1st offender N20,000.00 | Subsequent offender N30,000.00

Additional: Impound vehicle in addition to LASDRI training

  1. Parking on Yellow Line on a Public Highway/Illegal Parking

Penalty: 1st offender N20,000.00 | Subsequent offender N30,000.00

Additional: Impound vehicle in addition to LASDRI training

  1. Neglect of Traffic Directions

Penalty: Forfeiture of the vehicle to the state

Additional: Six (6) month imprisonment/one (1) community service

  1. Vehicle Crossing Double Yellow Line/Center Line

Penalty: 1st offender N20,000.00 | Subsequent offender N30,000.00

Additional: Impound vehicle in addition to more training at LASDRI

  1. Staying Within the Yellow Junction Box (Offside Rule)

Penalty: 1st offender N20,000.00 | Subsequent offender N30,000.00

Additional: Impound vehicle in addition to LASDRI training

  1. Failure to Yield to Right of Way for Pedestrian at a Zebra Crossing

Penalty: 1st offender N20,000.00 | Subsequent offender N30,000.00

Additional: Impound vehicle in addition to LASDRI training

  1. Failure to Give Way to Traffic on the Left at a Roundabout

Penalty: 1st offender N20,000.00 | Subsequent offender N30,000.00

Additional: Impound vehicle in addition to LASDRI training

  1. Smoking/Drinking Alcohol While Driving

Penalty: 1st offender N20,000.00 | Subsequent offender N30,000.00

Additional: Three (3) months imprisonment or six (6) months community service

  1. Riding Motorcycle Without a Crash Helmet for the Rider

Penalty: 1st offender N20,000.00 | Subsequent offender N30,000.00

Additional: N/A

  1. Riding a Motorcycle Without a Rider’s Permit

Penalty: 1st offender N20,000.00

Additional: Impound motorcycle and collect permit before release

  1. Riding a Motorcycle:

(i) Against traffic

(ii) On the kerb, median or road setbacks

Penalty: 1st offender N50,000.00 | Subsequent offender N100,000.00

Additional: Three (3) months imprisonment or six (6) months community service

  1. Conveying More Than One Passenger at Any Given Time Both Rider and Passenger

Penalty: 1st offender N50,000.00 | Subsequent offender N100,000.00

Additional: Imprisonment for a term of three (3) months or both fine and imprisonment, six (6) months community service

  1. Instalment of Musical Gadget on a Motorcycle

Penalty: 1st offender N20,000.00 | Subsequent offender N30,000.00

Additional: Forfeiture of the gadget, counselling/Enlightenment

  1. Alteration of Manufacturer’s Specification on Motorcycle (e.g. Handle Bar/Leg)

Penalty: N20,000

Additional: In addition, revert back to manufacturer’s specification

  1. Motorcyclist Resisting Arrest

Penalty: 1st offender N20,000.00 | Subsequent offender N30,000.00

Additional: Additional LASDRI training before release

  1. Driving Motor Vehicle/Motorcycle Without Side Mirrors, Indicators, Brake Lights or Rear Lights

Penalty: 1st offender N20,000.00 | Subsequent offender N30,000.00

Additional: Install/fix before release plus counselling and enlightenment at LASDRI

  1. Wrongful Overtaking of Other Vehicle

Penalty: 1st offender N20,000.00 | Subsequent offender N30,000.00

Additional: Imprisonment for a term of three (3) years or both fine and imprisonment

  1. Under-Aged Person Riding a Motorcycle

Penalty: 1st offender N20,000.00 | Subsequent offender N30,000.00

Additional: Dislodge rider and impound motorcycle

  1. Motorcycle Operating Using Horn Designed For Motor Vehicles

Fine: 1st offender N20,000.00 | Subsequent offender N30,000.00

Additional: Remove horn and install normal specification

  1. Operating a Motorcycle Below 200cc Engine Capacity

Penalty: N/A

Additional: Impound motorcycle

  1. Exceeding Prescribed Speed Limit

Penalty: N100,000

Additional: Imprisonment for a term of two (2) years or both fine and imprisonment

  1. Tailgating an Emergency Vehicle

Penalty: 1st offender N20,000.00 | Subsequent offender N30,000.00

Additional: Imprisonment for a term of three (3) years or both fine and imprisonment

  1. Failure of Slow-Moving Vehicle to Keep to the Right Lane

Penalty: 1st offender N20,000.00 | Subsequent offender N30,000.00

Additional: Impound vehicle plus LASDRI training

  1. Assault on a Traffic Officer (Physical)

Penalty: N100,000 or six (6) months imprisonment

Additional: Pay compensation to the assaulted officer

  1. Driving in a Direction Prohibited by the Law / Neglect of Traffic Directions

Penalty: Forfeiture of the vehicle to the state

Additional: 1st offence – one (1) year imprisonment and forfeiture of the vehicle to the state. Second and subsequent offence attracts three years imprisonment and forfeiture of the vehicle to the state and capturing of data and bio-metrics

  1. Illegal U-Turns

Penalty: 1st offender N20,000.00 | Subsequent offender N30,000.00

Additional: Driver training at LASDRI

  1. Wrongful Overtaking of Other Vehicles

Penalty: 1st offender N50,000.00 | Subsequent offender N100,000.00

Additional: Imprisonment for a term of three (3) months or both fine and imprisonment or six (6) months community service

  1. Overloading of a Commercial Vehicle on the Highway

Penalty: N50,000

Additional: Imprisonment for a term of three (3) months or six (6) months community service

  1. Driving on the Walkway or Kerbs

Penalty: N50,000

Additional: Impound vehicle plus three (3) months imprisonment

  1. Parking on the Walkway or Kerbs

Penalty: N20,000

Additional: Impound vehicle plus three (3) months imprisonment

  1. Parking or Stopping to Pick Passengers by a Commercial Vehicle on the Highway – Both Driver and Passenger

Penalty: N50,000

Additional: Driver training at LASDRI or three (3) months imprisonment

  1. Bullion Van Driving in a Direction Prohibited by Law

Penalty: Forfeiture of vehicle

Additional: Imprisonment for a term of three (3) years or payment of a fine of five hundred thousand Naira (N500,000)

  1. Abandoned Vehicle on Highway

Penalty: N500,000 plus cost of towing

Additional: Imprisonment for a term of three (3) months

  1. Vehicle Causing Obstruction on Highway if Broken Down

Penalty: Commercial – N50,000.00 in addition to the cost of towing | Private – N25,000.00 in addition to cost of towing

Additional: N/A

  1. Commuter or Conductor Hanging on Tailboard of Moving Vehicle

Penalty: 1st offender N20,000.00 | Subsequent offender N30,000.00

Additional: Dislodge and impound the vehicle

  1. Vehicle With Doors Left Open

Penalty: 1st offender N20,000.00 | Subsequent offender N30,000.00

Additional: One (1) month community service in addition to fine

  1. Making and Receiving Calls While Driving Without Hands-Free

Penalty: 1st offender N20,000.00 | Subsequent offender N30,000.00

Additional: Three (3) months community service

  1. Texting/Reading Text Messages While Driving

Penalty: 1st offender N20,000.00 | Subsequent offender N30,000.00

Additional: Six (6) months community service

  1. Counting Money or Otherwise Engage in Other Activities When Driving

Penalty: 1st offender N20,000.00 | Subsequent offender N30,000.00

Additional: Three (3) months community service

  1. Driving Without a Strapped Seat Belt For Both Passengers

Penalty: 1st offender N20,000.00 | Subsequent offender N30,000.00

Additional: Impound vehicle/Strap on the seatbelt

  1. Failure to Display Reflective Warning Sign at Point of Break Down

Penalty: 1st offender N20,000.00 | Subsequent offender N30,000.00

Additional: Procure standardized reflective sign before vehicle release

  1. Motorist Resisting Arrest

Penalty: 1st offender N20,000.00 | Subsequent offender N30,000.00

Additional: Impound vehicle in addition to LASDRI training

  1. Offence: Use of BRT Lite Corridor

Penalty: 1st offender N20,000.00 | Subsequent offender N30,000.00

Additional: Imprisonment for the term of six (6) months/one (1) year community service in addition to LASDRI training

  1. Wilful Obstruction on Highway

Penalty: N50,000 in addition to the cost of towing

Additional: Imprisonment for a term of three (3) months or both fine and imprisonment

  1. Storage Charge For Impounded Cars, Jeep and Mini-Buses Per Day

Penalty: N1,000

Additional: N/A

  1. Storage Charge For Impounded Motorcycles and Three Wheelers Per Day

Penalty: N500.00

Additional: N/A

  1. Storage Charge For All Other Impounded Vehicles (Six Wheelers and Above Per Day)

Penalty: N2,000

Additional: N/A

  1. Towing Impounded Cars, Jeeps and Mini-Buses

Penalty: N10,000

Additional: N/A

  1. Towing Other Commercial Vehicles Excluding Trailers (mini-buses)

Penalty: N10,000

Additional: N/A

  1. Towing a Trailer or Tanker (empty)

Penalty: N50,000

Additional: N/A

  1. Towing a Trailer or Tanker (loaded)

Penalty: N100,000

Additional: N/A

  1. Towing Tippers and Lorries (loaded)

Penalty: N100,000

Additional: N/A

  1. Towing Luxurious Buses

Penalty: N50,000

Additional: N/A

  1. Towing an Overnight Breakdown (trailer)

Penalty: N100,000

Additional: N/A

  1. Towing Tricycles

Penalty: N2,000

Additional: N/A

  1. Towing Motorcycles

Penalty: N500

Additional: N/A

  1. Hire of Heavy Duty Recovery Equipment (Towing / Recovery Fees)

Penalty: N/A

Additional: At hirer’s cost

  1. Failure to Pay Penalty Within Prescribed Time

Penalty: N/A

Additional: Double the initial penalty

  1. Operating Vehicle Within Restricted Routes or Beyond Approved Hour

Penalty: N50,000 / Impound vehicle

Additional: Optional – Six (6) months imprisonment / one (1) year community service

  1. Not Painting a Commercial Vehicle in Approved Colours

Penalty: N25,000

Additional: Impound vehicle and enforce painting before release

  1. Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol/Drugs

Penalty: N100,000

Additional: One (1) year imprisonment

  1. Disobeying Traffic Light

Penalty: N10,000

Additional: Optional – Three (3) months imprisonment/Six (6) months community service

Additional Offences and the Penalties They Attract

Below are other5 traffic offences and the penalties that come with them as clearly stipulated in the Lagos State traffic law.

  1. Driving Without a Valid Driver’s License

Penalty vehicle will be impounded.

  1. Driving With Fake Number Plate

Penalty: N30,000 or sentenced to 3 years in prison.

  1. Driving with Forged Vehicle Particulars

Penalty: 6 months in prison.

  1. Driving With a Fake Driver’s License

Penalty: 6 months in prison.

  1. Driving an Unpainted Taxi Without Permit

Penalty: vehicles will impounded.

  1. Disobeying LASTMA Officials

Penalty: Fine of N30,000 and or vehicle impounded if found guilty.

  1. Smoking While Driving

Penalty: N30,000 or vehicle impounded.

  1. Driving Without Full Light

Penalty: Fine of N50,000

  1. Driving With Tinted Glasses (Without permit)

Penalty: Fine of N30,000

  1. Driving With Worn Out Tyre

Penalty: Fine of N30,000.

  1. Driving Without a Fire Extinguisher

Penalty: Fine of N30,000.

  1. Driving Without a Spare Tyre

Penalty: Fine of N30,000.

  1. Driving a Smoking Vehicle

Penalty: Fine of N30,000.

  1. Driving a car With a Broken Windscreen

Penalty: Fine of N30,000.

  1. Eating and Driving

Penalty: 3 months in prison if pronounced guilty.

  1. One-Way Driving

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