Traffic Offenses in Lagos.
Do you know ignorance is no excuse to break the law?
It’s imperative to adhere to simple traffic laws and signs to avoid impromptu fund disbursement and a waste of time.
These traffic laws and signs were installed by the government to keep drivers in order and citizens in check.
When these traffic signs and laws are violated, it comes with a penalty.
I’ve decided to help compile what the Lagos State traffic laws are along with the penalties.
1. Staying Within the Yellow Junction Box (Offside Rule)
- Penalty: 1st offender N20,000.00
- Subsequent Violation: N30,000.00
- Additional: Impound vehicle in addition to LASDRI training
2. Smoking/Drinking Alcohol While Driving
- Penalty: 1st offender N20,000.00
- Subsequent Violation: N30,000.00
- Additional: Three (3) months imprisonment or six (6) months community service
3. Driving Motor Vehicle/Motorcycle Without Side Mirrors, Indicators, Brake Lights or Rear Lights.
- Penalty: 1st offender N20,000.00
- Subsequent Violation: N30,000.00
- Additional: Install/fix before release plus counseling and enlightenment at LASDRI
4. Wrongful Overtaking of Other Vehicle.
- Penalty: 1st offender N20,000.00
- Subsequent Violation: N30,000.00
- Additional: Imprisonment for a term of three (3) years or both fine and imprisonment
5. Assault on a Traffic Officer (Physical).
- Penalty: N100,000 or six (6) months imprisonment
- Additional: Pay compensation to the assaulted officer.
6. Illegal U-Turns
- Penalty: 1st offender N20,000.00
- Subsequent Violation: N30,000.00
- Additional: Driver training at LASDRI
7. Making and Receiving Calls While Driving Without Hands-Free.
- Penalty: 1st offender N20,000.00
- Subsequent Violation: N30,000.00
- Additional: Three (3) months community service.
8. Failure to Display Reflective Warning Sign at Point of Break Down.
- Penalty: 1st offender N20,000.00
- Subsequent Violation: N30,000.00
- Additional: Procure standardized reflective sign before vehicle release.
9. Storage Charge For Impounded Cars, Jeep and Mini-Buses Per Day
- Penalty: N1,000.00
10. Driving With Fake Number Plate.
- Penalty: If you are caught and found guilty of this, you will be fined N30,000, or you will be sentenced to 3 years in prison as a penalty for the violation.
11. Driving with Forged Vehicle Particulars
- Penalty: The Lagos state traffic law stipulates that anyone found guilty of driving with forged car documents will spend six months in prison as a penalty for the offense.
12. Driving With a Fake Driver’s License.
- Penalty: Anyone found guilty of this violation will be sentenced to 6 months in prison under the Lagos traffic laws.
13. Driving a Taxi (Unpainted Taxi) Without Permit.
- Penalty: In Lagos, ‘Kabu Kabu’ refers to cars mostly used for conveying passengers from one place to another. What differentiates them from the popular ‘yellow taxis’ in Lagos is the fact they are not painted. However, operators of such services are expected to have a permit for their cars. The traffic penalty for not having the required permit is to have such vehicles impounded.
14. Disobeying LASTMA Officials.
- Penalty: Failure to comply with the instructions of a LASTMA official is considered a grave offense and a fine of N30,000 with the risk of having your car impounded if found guilty.
15. Smoking While Driving.
- Penalty: Smoking while driving is considered a gross violation of the Lagos State traffic law and attracts a fine of N30,000 or getting your car impounded.
16. Driving Without Full Light
- Penalty: This is an offense that comes with a penalty of paying N50,000 as a fine
17. Driving With Tinted Glasses
- Penalty: If you are caught driving a car with tinted glass without having a ‘tint permit,’ you will pay a fine of N30,000
18. Driving With Worn Out Tyre
- Penalty: Driving a car with one or more tires being worn out is a traffic offense, and you can be fined N30,000 if your tires are deemed to be in bad condition.
19. Driving Without a Fire Extinguisher.
- Penalty: Having a fire extinguisher in your car is a safety precaution, and if you are caught without one in your car, you will pay a fine of N30,000. A fire extinguisher is considered compulsory for all cars.
20. Driving Without a Spare Tyre.
- Penalty: Getting caught without a spare tire is a traffic offense and attracts a fine of N30,000.
21. Driving a Smoking Vehicle.
- Penalty: The penalty for driving a car in a condition that sees it emitting black smoke from its exhaust is paying a fine of N30,000.
22. Driving a Smoking Vehicle.
- Penalty: If the windscreen of your car is broken, then it constitutes an offense to drive it. If caught driving such a car, the penalty is a fine of N30,000.
23. Eating and Driving.
- Penalty: Eating behind the wheel is dangerous and should be avoided by all means. To underscore the gravity of this offense, it attracts a penalty of spending three months in prison if pronounced guilty.
24. One-Way Driving.
- Penalty: One-way driving is a notorious traffic offense in Lagos and is made worse with the rising population of impatient drivers and road users. Most drivers resort to driving one-way as a means to beat traffic. However, it constitutes a traffic offense. The penalty for this is a prison sentence of 3 years. Yes, it’s that serious.
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