The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Lagos Command, disclosed that it had impounded over 1, 700 vehicles between January and August 2021 due to invalid and unregistered vehicle number plates
The Corps Sector Commander, Commander Olusegun Ogungbemide, made the disclosure during the Special Operation in preparation for ember patrol activities held in Ojota unit of the command in Lagos.
Ogungbemide said that the command begins the pop-up enforcement patrol on Aug. 31 in Tollgate and Ikorodu axis to checkmate abuse of number plates.
He said that the since Aug. 31 they began the special operation which would end in December it had apprehended 45 vehicles before the mobile court from both Ojota and Ikorodu units between Tuesday and today (Wednesday).
The sector commander, however said that the first initial enforcement line would end on Sunday and it would be continued till the year end.
Ogungbemide noted that the new trend of impunity that was going on in the town was where number plates were been abused and some people do not bother using number plates as slated in the National Road Traffic Regulations.
“Some drivers also make use of invalid registration and number plates, we have people that use number plate that are not recognised by law as they attacked fancy number plates that are not recognized by Nigeria Law.
“We have people that use logo of various motor brands rather than using their vehicles, we have those that are using their traditional tittle instead of their number plates,” he said.
Ogungbemide said that invalid and unregistered vehicle Number plates should not be encouraged adding that in a situation of hit and run it would be difficult to identify such vehicle owner.
The sector commander said that unregistered number plates could be difficult to identify if such vehicle was stolen.
He, therefore, sound a note of warning saying “Covering of number plate is against the law, the National Road Traffic Regulations had stated that you must fixed your number plate front of the vehicle uncovered.
Ogungbemide said the apart from prosecution that goes with FRSC offenses adding that offenders where free to go if they prepared payment of fine without prosecution.
He urged drivers to avoid overspending, overloading adding that the health of the passengers as well as the road was paramount to them that they would not compromise any insanity on the road.