The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has allayed the fear of motorists over the enforcement of traffic law in the state.
The agency assured members of the public, especially motorists not to be apprehensive over the fines being circulated on social media platforms as it was not a punitive measure but part of the measures put in place to restore sanity to roads in the state.
Olawale Musa, the general manager of LASTMA, explained in a stament that the 2018 traffic law from where the fines are derived, was an improvement on the 2012 law, with the objective to address the inadequacies noticed in the previous law and eliminate impunity and disorderliness on roads.
Musa further stated that the process of implementing traffic law in the state has been democratised in order to ensure that cases of traffic infractions are proven, determined and punished accordingly by law court.
This, he said would allow for fair hearing and transparency in the implementation of the law.
“The process has also put burden of proof on traffic officials and are therefore to be more professional, civil and polite to motorists and members of the public, but firm against violators of the law so as to check cases of impunity on the road.”
He explained that the existing law was not new to the public, but only being more emphasised. He frowned at a situation where motorists embark on flagrant disobedience of traffic law, driving against on coming vehicles, parking of vehicles and picking of passengers at undesignated places.
On the issue of forfeiture of vehicles for driving against the flow of traffic, Musa said that this should not be misconstrued with the one-way offence, as LASTMA has not apprehended any vehicle for one-way this year. He noted that while the agency had adopted the approach of being civil and humane in its dealings with the public, this was being played upon with observable civil disobedience on the roads prompting the need for sterner measures. Regardless of any circumstances, officials of LASTMA will remain civil but firm on the side of the law in the discharge of their duties.
Musa said the surest route to eliminating road disorderliness, chaos and impunity on the roads was through obedience of law.
He advised law abiding citizens to drive on the roads without fear of harassment by LASTMA officials.
He, however, urged members of the public to report cases of harassment and extortion to the agency for investigation and appropriate action, cooperate with traffic officials and obey traffic law.
According to him, motorists are advised to avail themselves of the 2018 traffic law on the agency`s media platforms listed below and also lodge complaints via: Facebook: Lagos State Traffic Management Authority; Twitter: @ followlastma and Instagram: eko_ lastma
Joshua Bassey
