Unlike in the last four years when the officers of Lagos State Traffic Management Agency (LASTMA) were barred from making arrests, the administration of Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu has returned the traffic agency to status quo, with heavier sanctions of forfeiture or N200,000 penalty after court trial.
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Sanwo-olu is motivating the officers for optimum performance by restoring security backups and towing vans for traffic law enforcement operations.
The governor also signed the traffic-related Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Agency amended bill into law, and psyched up the officers with a 100 per cent increase of monthly hazard allowance.
He equally charged them not to spare anyone who violates the traffic laws including civil servants and politicians.
So tough times await traffic offenders in the state.
In the new regime, a severe penalty of N200,000 for one-way offence, which is not known to the subsisting Lagos traffic laws. Also, all the violations that erstwhile had no monetary penalties now attract fines of between N20,000 to N90,000, The Guardian wrote.
The paper said offences like failure to use seat belt, unclosed doors or standing on the doorway while in motion, all attract N20,000 each. Parking on the highway, obstruction of traffic, picking or dropping passengers on illegal bus-stop attract N50,000 fine.
It added that making a reverse on the highway, driving on kerbs and parking on walkways now attract N50,000 penalty. Driving on BRT designated lanes is N70,000, while dropping passengers on laybys is slammed at N90,000 fine. And for every night a seized vehicle spends in the custody of LASTMA, a N1,000 fine is paid.
