The Monrovia Traffic Court has fined former Solicitor General Cllr. Syrenius Cephus US$50 for operating a vehicle with expired registration and without a visible rear license plate, following a traffic stop earlier this month in Sinkor.
The court found Cephus guilty after he was cited on May 10, 2025, by Police Inspector Ben Johnson, who pulled him over on 10th Street. According to police records, the vehicle, bearing license plate number A58327 and Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) KNALM4158BCA060358, was found to be in violation of Liberia’s Vehicle and Traffic Law.
Delivering the verdict, Traffic Court Judge Korser Zubah stated that the car had no valid registration after midnight on April 24, 2025, which constitutes a breach of Section 3.7 of the law. The court ordered Cephus to pay a fine of US$50 within 72 hours, per the stipulations on the traffic citation. Judge Zubah also ruled that Cephus’ driver’s license will remain suspended until proof of payment is presented.
Cephus challenged the citation in court, arguing that it contradicted Section 3.93 of the Vehicle and Traffic Law. He also accused the Liberia National Police of singling him out for political reasons.
“The police are hungry, can’t you see? He looks hungry,” Cephus told reporters outside the courtroom, referring to Inspector Johnson. He claimed the stop disrupted his travel to an important meeting and dismissed the citation as an act of harassment.
However, Inspector Johnson maintained that the stop was lawful and part of routine enforcement to ensure motorists abide by national traffic regulations. “Our duty is to enforce the law, not to play politics,” Johnson said.
In his clarification, Judge Zubah explained that vehicle registration in Liberia operates on a yearly cycle from January to December, and owners are granted a one-month grace period, until January 31, to renew without facing penalties. He underscored that violations beyond that window are subject to fines as determined by the Ministry of Transport.
“Traffic laws apply to everyone,” the judge said. “Even public officials must comply.”
The case comes amid a broader crackdown by the Liberia National Police on traffic violations across the country, with enforcement efforts increasingly targeting not only ordinary citizens but also former government officials and legislators.
