LASTMA officials have no right to drive impounded vehicles

Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, Mr Kayode Opeifa, has said that officials of the State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) have no right to drive impounded vehicles.Opeifa, who made the disclosure in Lagos said, 'it is unlawful for LASTMA officials to drive vehicles that contravened the law, except the arrested motorist resisted arrest or have no driver's 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. However, 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 said.He also advised LASTMA officials to stop chasing unruly motorists, but rather, they should 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, known as AutoReg. Opeifa lamented that some motorists, especially commercial bus operators, were in the habit of fighting LASTMA officials, while some even made attempt to crush them to death.
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