It is not about putting pen to paper because of personal hurt but rather a show of unimaginable professionals called road safety marshals who have turned businessmen.
Victim: I learnt my car was towed from the road side beside the Eagle square?
Marshal: what makes is your car; can you identify it among the cars here?
Victim: Yea, that is my car with green colour beside the Nissan Sunny.
Marshal: You parked wrongly, that was why the car was towed. Wait to collect your ticket for the penalty. What is your name, address- the officer keyed in the info in a tablet? Victim's car has the new number plate- not available in the 'database' of the FRSC?
Victim: I parked wrongly, how? The side of theroad was marked for parking and no sign in the section to show otherwise. Meanwhile, other vehicles were parked and found no unusual thing around to prompt me otherwise. I am coming from the Hospital with a bad report (have a look) - I only stopped by to get money from the ATM to go for treatment within 30 minutes.
Marshal: Stop the grammar; take your ticket- pay N5000 as fine at Union Bank and N5000 at Zenith Bank for towing charges.
Victim: Please show sympathy officer. It is about 12 minutes to 4pm and banks close at 4pm, please I have to go to the hospital. The money in my hand is the last for the treatment. See my account balance via the T-alert on my mobile phone.
Marshal: There is nothing we can do. The ticket has already been sent to our database. Go home and come tomorrow morning to make the payment and get your car.
Victim: Arrived the following morning; pleading for pardon. All fell on deaf ears. Took the money for the hospital treatment and paid the N10000 for the penalties (definitely not prioritizing health to car- there is more to such move). Present the duplicate to the record section and another paper indicating payment of the fine was issued but nothing for the towing. While the duplicates for the bank payment for both were given.
Marshal: Have you paid? Bring your evidence of payment. Where is your car? You have to pay for demurrage because your car stayed here for a day. Sign here.
Victim: I never knew Road Safety Corps is now a business venture only concerned about how much they can rake in from motorist and not a corrective agency to ensure law/order and safety on our roads.
The most shocking scenario in all of this is the complete lack of mechanism to note owners of the towed vehicles. Criminals with master keys can buy cars for N10,000 by paying the fine which is the only concern of the officers. All they are concerned with is the cash coming into the agency.
Being a busy area; no officer was stationed there to ensure compliance if the provision of deterrence by signage was not enough.
FRSC-
Return back to the main mandate and stop chasing motorist like tax collectors!
Reviewed by
Asaph Mic
on
17:05:00
Rating:
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