Oyo Assembly bans motorcyclists from operating beyond 10pm

By Moyosore Salami

Oyo State House of Assembly on Tuesday said that motorcyclists are not allowed to move in the state beyond 10pm.

The Control of Commercial Motorcycles (Further Amendment) Bill, 2019, passed into law at plenary prescribes fines ranging from N5,000 to N15,000 for those apprehended engaging in commercial motorcycle operation beyond 10pm.

The Chairman, House Committee on Works and Transport, Olatunde Kehinde, explained that the intent of the provisions of the bill was to reduce the use of motorcycles to commit crimes.

The bill also stipulates that commercial motorcyclists shall, within six months from commencement of the law, register their motorcycle(s) with the state Ministry of Works and Transport and obtain a distinct cycler’s permit number and identity card.

“A commercial motorcycle owner or operator who does not register his motorcycle as stipulated shall be deemed guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to a fine of N5,000 or to a term of one month imprisonment.”

The bill, which is a further amendment to the Control of Commercial Motorcycles Law, 1995, also stipulates penalties and fines for those convicted for reckless or negligent riders.

“Any person who rides a motorcycle recklessly or negligently or at a speed or in a manner which is dangerous having regard to all the circumstances of the case including the nature, condition and use of the road and to the amount to traffic which actually is at the time or which might reasonably be expected to be on the road, shall be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to a fine of N10,000 or to a term of two years imprisonment,” Section 6 of the bill stipulates.

“Any person who causes the death of another person by riding a motorcycle recklessly or at a speed or in a manner which is dangerous to the public having regard to all the circumstances of the case including the nature, condition and use of the road to the amount of traffic which is actually at the time or which might reasonably be expected to be on the road shall be guilty or an offence and liable on conviction to a fine of N100,000 or to a term of five years imprisonment,” Section 7 stipulates.