Traffic Offenders May Spend Christmas In Jail - FRSC

The Federal Road Safety Commission says some road traffic offenders may spend the Christmas holidays in jail.

The FRSC Zonal Commander in-charge of zone 5, Mr Charles Akpabio, in Onitsha, Anambra State, said that the commission would deploy mobile and magistrate courts in all road corridors.

Akpabio is in-charge of zone 5, comprising Anambra, Delta and Edo states. He said the move would act as a deterrent to road traffic offenders and a reminder to their families and friends to keep warning them to be careful while on the road.

According to Akpabio: “Now, the essence is to allow them to explain themselves to the judge or to the magistrate – like ‘no, I didn’t commit the offence; it is not true or I committed the offence, I am sorry’.

“If the magistrate decides to allow them to go free, they are free; if the magistrate decides that with the evidence available before the court and say ‘no, don’t go free, pay the fine’.

“Sometimes, in some cases, they can say ‘pay the fine and go to jail’, or ‘go to jail without option of fine’. They will show, they will be a deterrent to other road users.

“And for the numbers of years we have utilised mobile courts and magistrate courts in our operations, they have been very effective.

“So, this time around, we intend to utilise the mobile courts as well on all the (road) corridors.

“Some offenders that would be arrested for speed violation, dangerous driving, use of phone while driving, driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol and driving with expired spare tyre and overloading, may likely, by the judgment of the courts, spend the Christmas or New Year or New Year and Christmas in jail.”

Hmmm... This is not a threat but a warning.

Please don’t drink and drive.

No phone calls while driving.

No over-speeding.

Watch well before over-taking.

Are you travelling or have you travelled...Wishing you safe trip.