The Directorate of Road Traffic Services (DRTS), Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has commenced e-ticketing and central booking of traffic offenders in the territory.

Its director, Abdullateef Bello, disclosed this in Abuja on Monday, at the inauguration of the initiative designed to drive road traffic enforcement in the FCT.

A Federal High Court in Abuja, had on Oct. 3, 2024, barred DRTS from impounding vehicles.

The court also barred the directorate from stopping vehicles and imposing fines.

Acknowledging the development, Mr Bello said that the directorate had appealed the court judgement.

He added that, in the meantime, the directorate had resorted to using technological devices to enforce traffic rules, which, he said, had legal backing.

He explained that the FCT transportation secretariat’s extant laws allowed DRTS to use devices to maintain safety on the roads across the territory.

Mr Bello said that DRTS had acquired technological devices that would record traffic infractions and immediately issue electronic tickets to offenders in a few minutes.

He said that the new system, which would be efficient in tracking and penalising road traffic offences, was designed to reduce physical interface between enforcement officers and motorists.

“Henceforth, all violators of traffic issues will now be booked electronically and expected to pay the fine within seven days.

“If they fail to pay the fine within the stipulated period, their vehicles will be impounded.

“DRTS will not be stopping vehicles at random. The devices will select those that are violating our traffic rules,” he said.

The director said that the enforcement officers have been trained on how to use the device, adding that a simulation exercise had also been carried out for a real time experience.

He further said that all necessary machinery had been activated for the smooth take-off of the initiative.

He explained that the offenders who refused to respond to the electronic tickets, would pay the fine at the point of vehicle license renewal.

Mr Bello, however, said that offenders who disagree with the issued ticket would have the opportunity to appeal the penalty.

(NAN)