10 driving offences in Lagos and their penalties

Ignorance of the law, they say is not an excuse. In order not to find yourself in a fix with the law enforcement officers, kindly read through the listed traffic offences in Lagos and their penalties:

• Driving without valid driver’s license: Your vehicle will be impounded. For the vehicle to be released, you have to present evidence that you have paid for a new license. You also have to pay for the vehicle’s storage at the agency’s facility.
• Driving of any vehicle by persons under 18 years old: N20,000 for first time offenders and N30,000 for subsequent offenders. The vehicle will be impounded and a vehicle storage fee will be paid be its release.
• Learner driver without permit: N20,000 for first time offenders and N30,000 for subsequent offenders. You must present evidence of payment for learner’s permit and storage fee must be paid before the impounded vehicle is released.
• Driving an unlicensed vehicle: N20,000 for first time offenders and N30,000 for subsequent offenders. You may also be imprisoned for 3 years.
• Physical assault to a traffic officer: N50,000 and/or 6 months imprisonment.

• Driving a right hand vehicle: N20,000 for first time offenders and N30,000 for subsequent offenders. The vehicle must be converted to a left hand drive immediately.
• Driving without valid vehicle documents: The vehicle will be impounded. It will only be released after you present evidence of payment for the outstanding vehicle document(s) e.g vehicle license, road worthiness etc.
• Smoking while driving: N20,000 for first time offenders and N30,000 for subsequent offenders.
• Driving a trailer or other vehicle carrying unlatched and unsecured containers: The fine is N250,000 and the vehicle will be impounded.
• Excessive smoke emission: N20,000 for first time offenders and N30,000 for subsequent offenders.

It will be a big relief to several Lagosians if some of these policies and penalties are implemented to the fullest especially the unlatched containers and the excessive smoke emission.