How to beat a VIO check

Unlike our wonderful police who claim to be our friends, the Vehicle Inspection Officers (Popularly known as VIO officers) are not celebrities you can take a selfie with.

VIO officers especially in Lagos have a target at making money for the government more than being interested in your vehicle being safe or you getting home with all limbs. Every VIO office has a revenue target (and not a safety target) that must be met weekly or the most senior official gets sanctioned.



That is why they usually stop only drivers with assumed disposable incomes more than impounding those rickety vehicles we still find on our roads.

We would be discussing how to ensure that they don't use you to meet that financial weekly target.

VIO will stop you to check only 4 things:
*The condition of your car
*The status of your driving documents
*The statutory equipment on board
*Your common sense

First they would check to see how safe your car is; not because they don't want you to die,but because if you are found wanting, you could be hit with a huge fine.

Your car must have 5 good tires (including your extra tire), all your lights(including brake light) must work, your horn, mirrors,wipers, windows and non-cracked windscreens etc...all must be in working shape. Bulbs are still around N100 or less. Don't dull.

Secondly, they are Interested in checking your documents.

They will ask for your driver's licence first. You must ensure you have done this. The cost of not having is enough to issue licences for everybody in your compound or buy two goats and a bag of rice.

They now ask for the insurance document or flip though all the barrage of dirty photocopies you have handed over to the insurance page. They check and hope you have done a fake. Original third party insurance is N5,000 whilst the fake should be way cheaper. However, being caught with a forged insurance document take a minimums fine of N20,000.00 in addition to the other possible gaffes on your part. Don't be found wanting. It is easy to confirm if your insurance is genuine.

They now flip to the Road Worthiness document. You must also not be found wanting here. That's their forte. Some vehicles have their road Worthiness certificate requiring renewal every 6 months. Always ensure you know the next due date and renew before then.

They then check your vehicle AutoReg Licence. It being due is also another issue.

In summary, you must ensure your Driver's Licence, insurance, road Worthiness and Vehicle licence are in top shape.

Thirdly, they check the statutory equipment required for your vehicle. Your vehicle must have the following non negotiable equipment:
*a C-Caution Triangle
*a fire extinguisher... Fully charged...remember, fully charged.
*an extra tire
*a car jack and the required jacking accessories.

Finally, they check to see if you are a driver with common sense. Common sense dictates that you have your seat belt on, you have your boot properly closed and goods not sticking out, you have your plate numbers properly displayed etc.

The cheapest fine is currently N20,000. You would be asked to make payment in a bank. Your tax records must be fully up to date or you would be required to pay your tax before accessing your vehicle. For every single day your vehicle sleeps in their hotel, you pay N1,000 including Saturdays and Public holidays. Finally, they deflate your tire and you have to inflate with their authorized vulcanizer that charges an average of N500 per tire.

However, if you can follow the tips above, you have successfully beaten the VIO black and blue and he would quickly pass you on and lay in wait for the next possible victim. If he smiles at you afterwards, always remember that he would have been wicked on your bank account if he had caught you otherwise.