Lagos Traffic Laws: Offences and Their Fines – All You Should Know

The Lagos State Government has introduced updated traffic laws aimed at promoting road safety and discouraging violations.

These measures, enforced by agencies like LASTMA (Lagos State Traffic Management Authority), include a detailed list of offences and corresponding fines or penalties.

This article provides an extensive guide to the new traffic offences and their consequences.

---

Table of Traffic Offences and Fines

Offence	Penalty
Driving without a driver’s licence	Impound vehicle
Driving a vehicle by person under 18	₦30,000
Driving with fake number plates	₦30,000 and 3 years in prison
Driving with forged vehicle particulars	6 months in prison
Driving with fake driver’s licence	6 months in prison
Driving without road worthiness	Impound vehicle
Driving only yellow	₦80,000, enforce painting
Driving without Hackey permit	Impound vehicle
No display of Hackey permit	Impound vehicle
Kabu Kabu without permit	Impound vehicle
Disobeying LASTMA officer	₦30,000/Impound vehicle
Neglect of traffic direction light	3 months in prison
Smoking while driving	₦30,000/Impound vehicle
Physically assaulting a traffic officer	₦50,000/6 months in prison
Driving without full light	₦50,000
Driving with worn-out tyre	₦30,000
Driving without spare tyre	₦30,000
Driving smoking vehicle	₦30,000
No fire extinguisher	₦30,000
Broken windscreen	₦30,000
Tinted windscreen	₦30,000
Eating and driving with one hand	3 months in prison
One-way driving	3 years in prison
Driving without fastened seatbelt	₦30,000
Not painting a commercial vehicle the approved colour	₦50,000
No car hire service permit	1st ₦20,000; 2nd ₦30,000, Impound vehicle
Parking on yellow line on any public highway/illegal parking	1st ₦20,000; subsequent ₦30,000
Vehicle crossing double yellow line/center line	1st ₦20,000; subsequent ₦30,000
Staying within the yellow junction box (offside rule)	1st ₦20,000; subsequent ₦30,000
Failure to yield to right of way of pedestrians at zebra crossing	1st ₦20,000; subsequent ₦30,000
Failure to give way to traffic on the left at a roundabout	1st ₦20,000; subsequent ₦30,000
Driving on walkway or kerb	Impound vehicle
Reversing on the highway or parking on walkways	₦50,000
Obstruction of traffic	₦20,000
Picking/Dropping passengers at an illegal bus stop	₦50,000
Driving on BRT lanes	₦70,000

---

Detailed Breakdown of Offences and Penalties

1. Licensing-Related Offences

• Driving without a driver’s licence: Offenders will have their vehicles impounded until a valid licence is presented.
• Driving under the age of 18: A fine of ₦30,000 applies, as driving before the legal age poses significant safety risks.

2. Fake Documentation

• Driving with fake number plates incurs a fine of ₦30,000 and 3 years imprisonment, highlighting the government’s stance on fraud prevention.
• Forged vehicle particulars or fake driver’s licences result in 6 months imprisonment.

3. Roadworthiness and Vehicle Standards

• Vehicles without a valid roadworthiness certificate will be impounded.
• Driving vehicles with worn-out tyres, smoking engines, or broken windscreens will result in fines of ₦30,000 per offence.
• No spare tyre or fire extinguisher also attracts fines of ₦30,000 each.

4. Traffic Rule Violations

• One-way driving is among the most serious offences, punishable by 3 years imprisonment.
• Disobeying LASTMA officers: Offenders face a fine of ₦30,000 or vehicle impoundment.
• Neglecting traffic direction lights leads to 3 months imprisonment.
• Staying in the yellow junction box or crossing a double yellow line incurs fines starting at ₦20,000, increasing to ₦30,000 for repeated offences.

5. Public Transport-Specific Offences

• Kabu Kabu drivers without permits will have their vehicles impounded.
• Commercial vehicles not painted the approved yellow and black color attract a fine of ₦50,000.

6. BRT Lane and Illegal Bus Stops

• Driving on BRT lanes incurs a ₦70,000 fine.
• Picking or dropping passengers at illegal bus stops attracts a ₦50,000 penalty.

---

Common Offences and Their Impact

Eating or Smoking While Driving

• Eating or driving with one hand can lead to 3 months imprisonment.
• Smoking while driving attracts a ₦30,000 fine, emphasizing the importance of full concentration while on the road.

Driving Without Full Light

• Driving without full light at night not only poses a risk to the driver but also endangers other road users, warranting a ₦50,000 fine.

Assault on Traffic Officers

• Physical assault of a LASTMA officer is punishable by a ₦50,000 fine or 6 months imprisonment, reflecting zero tolerance for such actions.

---

Summary Table of Penalties for Quick Reference

Category	Example Offences	Penalty
Licensing Violations	Driving without licence	Vehicle impoundment
Documentation Fraud	Fake number plates, driver’s licence	₦30,000/6 months to 3 years imprisonment
Vehicle Standards	Worn-out tyres, no fire extinguisher	₦30,000
Public Transport Rules	Kabu Kabu without permit, wrong vehicle color	₦50,000 or vehicle impoundment
Road Use Violations	One-way driving, BRT lane violations	₦70,000/3 years imprisonment
Traffic Light Offences	Ignoring signals, yellow box rule	₦20,000–₦30,000