Faded number plates: NAJA decries arrest, fine imposition on defaulters 

BY CHISOM NWATU

…tasks authorities on production quality

The Nigeria Auto Journalists Association (NAJA), the umbrella body of journalists covering the automotive industry in the country, has called for a more proactive measure from state governments arresting and contravening motorists using faded vehicle number plates across the country.

Mike Ochonma, NAJA chairman, who made this position known in a statement made available to newsmen in Lagos at the weekend, wondered why the unsuspecting vehicle owners are subjected to such traumatic experience when they processed and procured their number plates from the relevant authorities.

Ochonma, while recognising the efforts of the various authorities in curbing the increasing number of faded number plates in use across the country, also challenged authorities producing the number plates to use quality paint and other printing materials that will have a longer life-span. This measure, he noted, will save vehicle owners from the harrowing experience they face regularly in the hands of both the state VIS officials, the Federal Road Safety Corps, the police and other statutory authorities.

The NAJA chairman also recommended that owners of faded vehicle number plates, if arrested or stopped on the road, should be given a period of grace within which to get a new one at a discounted price at the time they are renewing their vehicle particulars.

State VIS sources claim that motorists with faded vehicle plate numbers violate traffic rules and so are made to pay fines.

“Ignorance of the law is not an excuse, because having a faded vehicle number plate is an offence. Those accosted for having faded vehicle number plates should blame themselves for not doing the right thing at the right time,“ VIS sources said.

VIS and FRSC officials say all vehicle number plates must be visible from at least 50 metres away, otherwise it constitutes an offence to use it, adding that if a clear view could not be achieved, then the number plate was not performing its function.

“For example, if a vehicle is stolen, it is the number plate that will be used to identify the vehicle to report to security agencies,” a VIS source said.

Some motorists who have been contravened for possessing faded number plates said they were made to pay heavy fines of up to N20,000 with further directive to procure new number plates.

However, NAJA said it was improper to impound people’s vehicles or impose fines for faded number plates; rather, defaulting drivers should be made to make payments for automatic replacement.

Speaking on the alleged low quality of the number plates, Ochonma said it was important for road enforcement agencies to find solution to the low-quality vehicle number plates in circulation.

“Having faded vehicle plate numbers cannot and should not be blamed on motorists. They were not the people that produced the number plates. Hence, it is bizarre that such motorists would be made to pay for offences that are allegedly committed due to no fault of theirs,“ he said.

He said the those charged with production of the said substandard number plates which fade easily should be blamed instead of heaping the blame entirely on motorists.

“As an association, we urge that to ensure that the number plates being produced by the Lagos State government through the Lagos State Number Plate Production Authority (NPPA) and other production centres, for instance, are produced under strict supervision of its quality control officers,” he said.

According to the NAJA chairman, statistics show that unlike the vehicle number plates produced by the FRSC in Abuja, most of the vehicle number plates that easily get faded are those produced by NPPA.

Vehicle number plates should be able to last for about 12 years without getting faded, Ochonma said.