DRTS BARS OPERATIVES FROM REMOVING TRAFFIC VIOLATORS’ NUMBER PLATES

By: Ben Ukeji
As part of efforts aimed at reforming the Directorate of Road Traffic Services ( DRTS), otherwise known as ,
Vehicle Inspection Office (VIO), for effective service delivery in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the Management has introduced the use of electronic device, Cameras, in capturing road traffic violators.
This is coming just as the Management bared its officers and men from removing the vehicle number plate of any road traffic violator .
A statement issued by Kalu Emetu, Head of Public Relations Division, DRTS, yesterday in Abuja, indicated that the Director of the Agency, Dr. Abdul-Lateef Bello, revealed this during the presentation of the new operational order.

According to Kalu, henceforth DRTS , operatives are required to use Cameras to capture motorist that violate traffic regulations in the territory.
The statement also said , Dr. Bello insisted that the new operational order is in tune with modern road traffic regulations globally.
He explained that the practice of removal of the numbers plates on vehicles is no longer fashionable and will not be permitted in Abuja, which is the model city in the country.

The Director further explained that those drivers who are fond of breaking traffic regulations in the nation’s capital will rather receive messages from the Directorate for them to pay certain fines within a stipulated period or risk the vehicle impounded and the owner prosecuted in the law court.
He, therefore, warned that vehicles should not be parked in an unauthorized area as it defaces the esthetics of the city and called on owners of vehicles that are not road worthy to desist from bringing them to the city as his agency will not fail to discharge its mandate of impounding such vehicle in the interest and safety of Abuja residents.
He urged officials of the Directorate to imbibe the spirit of professionalism in the discharge of their duties.
According to him, being professional in operational duties would determine the respect earned by any officer from members of the public.
By the new order, issuance of “off the road“ paper is now mandatory by personnel of the Directorate who were earlier blamed for hoarding the document even when deserving vehicles were seen in every route and the few that were impounded were never issued the document. The new traffic order also stated that impounded vehicles must undergo inspection before they are released to the owners.
Traffic offenders are now to have a date with the FCT Drivers Training Institute at Lugbe, where they would be made to undergo a day or two training before any consideration on the release of such vehicles.
The evidence of such mandatory training at the institute is to be used to commence any discussion on such traffic offender.
The new operational order also required operatives of the Directorate to always exercise caution and be polite in dealing with the public including, arrest of traffic offenders.
Other internal mechanisms were put in place to monitor personnel of the Directorate to ensure that they remain fair to all,in the course of discharging their functions.
In the same vein, members of the public are advised to accord officials of the Directorate all necessary courtesies.