Collection of Dues in Public Places by Transport Unions (prohibition) Road Traffic Law

COLLECTION OF DUES IN PUBLIC PLACES BY TRANSPORT UNIONS (PROHIBITION) ROAD TRAFFIC LAW

1. Citation. This Law may be cited as the Collection of Dues in Public Places by Transport Unions (Prohibition) Road Traffic Law.

2. Interpretation. In the Law unless the Context otherwise requires- “Commercial vehicle” means a mechanically propelled vehicle intended for or used for the carriage of a passenger or goods for reward; “dues” include membership dues or any other collection by or on behalf of a transport union; “public place” includes a highway, street, road, market or motor park; “State” means the Delta State of Nigeria; “transport union” includes a body representing owners of commercial vehicles or a body representing drivers of commercial vehicles or any other similar body by whatever name so called.

3. Demand or collection of dues prohibited. The demand or collection of dues by a transport union, corporation or an individual from a driver or a person in charge of a motor vehicle in a public place is prohibited throughout the State.

4. Unlawful to harass, molest or assault drivers. It shall be unlawful to harass, molest or assault a driver or a person in charge of a commercial vehicle or any other vehicle in a public place for the purpose of forcing him to become a member of a transport union or for any purpose.

5. Offence. (i) a person who contravenes a provision of this Law shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine of N50,000.00 or two years’ imprisonment or to both. (ii) if the offence is committed by a body corporate or incorporate, it shall be liable on conviction to a fine or amount not less than N50,000.00 and its office shall be sealed up for six months.

6. Power of police officer. A police officer shall have the power to arrest a person who commits an offence under this Law.

7. Law enforcement. Nothing in this Law shall prevent a police officer or other law enforcement officer from carrying out the duties imposed on him by law.

8. No defence. It shall not be a defence that the person who committed an offence under this Law was preventing the contravention of the Road Traffic Laws of Delta State or any other law or regulation.

9. Prosecution. Any person arrested for contravening any provision of this Law may be brought before the Revenue Court or any other court nearest to the venue of the alleged commission of the offence and have his charge made orally against him before such court in open court in his presence and he shall be tried summarily on the spot.