By Taofiq Adebayo
If you cannot patiently bear correction, endeavor to avoid fault – Norm Macdonald (1959-2021), Canadian stand-up Comedian, Actor and Writer
Laws are generally made to regulate human behaviors as relate different aspects of our lives. Established laws help ensure fairness, balance, equity, parity and sanity in a society. Human excesses are checked through the enactment of laws as they serve as guidance and standard for acceptable behavior.
A society without law would encourage disorderliness and abuses by other people. Abuse and misuse of power are inevitable in a setting where there are no laws. Where there is no law, they say, there is no sin. Offences are bound to occur when laws are enacted. Committing an offence then means the individual has disobeyed the law.
The sole aim of making a law is
to be obeyed. It then becomes imperative on the law-abiding citizens to obey
that law. Obeying a law then becomes a duty, not an option. Laws are of
different types and classifications depending on the jurisdictional entity of
the body or government that creates the laws. Laws can be common, statutory or
regulatory.
Traffic laws help guide and checkmate motorists’ behavior on the
road. These laws ensure that traffic signs are not selectively obeyed but in
full. When a vehicle is apprehended for a traffic infraction, the driver is
always quick to say that he doesn’t know his action is a traffic offence – he
claims ignorance of the law. In fact, the law frowns at claiming ignorance of
the law which it regards as inexcusable.
Many other motorists when
apprehended, would say, most traffic managers do not use corrective measures as
they only deploy punishable means by the way they operate. After being made to
face the full wrath of the law as a consequence of their action, the traffic
violators claim that they ought to be corrected, not punished. If every traffic
law offender or violator is always corrected by just a mere warning with no
scapegoats made, then everyone would be disobeying traffic laws since there are
no consequential punishments attached. As enshrined in the Lagos State
Transport Sector Reformed Law 2018 as amended, there is no portion of the law
that states that an offence is pardonable.
Each traffic offence comes with
its penalty or fine. What could be observed is that there is difference in
penalties or fines for an offence for a first offender and that subsequently
committed by same offender to serve as additional punishment. Let me make clear
that it is the Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences (Mobile) Court
that decides the fine and also pronounces judgment as appropriate.
Punishment is a form of
correction as it usually achieves two main purposes – serves as reminder to
offender not to commit same offence again next time and to serve as deterrent
to others with intention or likely tendency of doing same. The aim of a fine
for traffic offence isn’t actually to drain the offender of their pocket but to
prevent a repeat.
However,
it is important to state clearly here that, with respect to a traffic offence,
correction can come in the form of warning and punishment. It depends on the
nature of offence committed and the angle from which it is viewed. The Lagos
State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) personnel correct erring motorists
but it is at their discretion. Records or instances of corrections made by
these traffic controllers and managers may not always make it to the news but
they effect corrections in many ways.
When
warning comes as a form of correction, there must be an indicator that would
serve as reminder to prevent reoccurrence. This warning indicator might not be
stern or stiff as the case may be. On the other hand, if corrections are
carried out and effected as punishment, they are usually stern as the receiver
is left sorry.
The law cannot be bent to favor
an individual on grounds of sympathy, it applies to everyone. It therefore
behooves on all to avoid breaking the law in order not to be caught on the
wrong side. LASTMA personnel operate within the ambits of the law that
established the Agency. Their primary function as empowered by law is to
control and manage traffic, and then call to order erring motorists who do not
obey traffic laws by way of enforcement through the apprehension of their
vehicles. Most times, full compliance with traffic rules and regulations might
not be achieved except through enforcement as there would be some recalcitrant
individuals.
Few weeks ago, the General
Manager of LASTMA, Mr. Bolaji Oreagba, while enjoining road users in Lagos to
comply strictly with the State Traffic Laws, urged motorists to avoid the
consequences the law will bring on them if they violate it. Mr. Oregaba made
this appeal in a reaction to the impoundment of some vehicles by the Core
Operations Commands of the Agency from the Headquarters across Lagos metropolis
over indiscriminate and illegal parking on the roads.
The General Manager said, “I
must implore law-abiding citizens of Lagos State, especially motorists, to
adhere strictly to the traffic law of the State in order not to run afoul of
the law which has consequences. We must all have a positive attitude towards
obeying the law of the State which was made to ensure orderliness and
fast-paced socio-economic improvement of individuals, corporate entities and
generality of the people.”
Sanity
would return to our roads if every road user, most especially, motorists would
adhere strictly to traffic laws and regulations of Lagos State. For all Lagos
road users in turn, travel time reduces as the economy of the State is
bolstered, stress occasioned by traffic is quelled and then mental health
improves thereby increasing life expectancy.
*Adebayo is the Assistant Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department at LASTMA Headquarters and be reached via baba70b70@gmail.com
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