‘LASTMA has no right to drive impounded vehicles’

Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. Kayode Opeifa, on Tuesday said officials of the State
Traffic Management Authority had no right to drive impounded vehicles. Opeifa made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos. He said, “It is unlawful for LASTMA officials to drive vehicles that contravened the law, except the arrested
motorist resisted arrest or has no drivers’ licence- which is the only guarantee for any driver to be on the road. “We have been hearing reports of our men driving arrested vehicles. In the course of driving the vehicle, if
there is an accident, the officer involved will be held responsible. “My advice is that when a vehicle is arrested, the offender should cooperate by coming to Alausa to redress
the issue, which at times, after scrutiny, the offender may be allowed to go without any punishment.” He also advised LASTMA officials to stop chasing unruly motorists, but rather, book their vehicles. The commissioner explained that such vehicles could be traced to the owner’s home with the newly introduced
automated vehicle licensing and renewal system, also known as AutoReg. Opeifa lamented that some motorists, especially commercial bus operators, are in the habit of fighting
LASTMA officials, while some even make attempt to crush them.