Tougher traffic laws in makati take effect sept 16

[DonCamote]

From Makati.gov.ph

Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin S. Binay today announced that starting Friday, September 16, deputized traffic enforcers of the city Public Safety Department (also known as MAPSA) will begin implementing City Ordinance No. 2011-010 which amends certain provisions of the Makati City Traffic Code of 2003 and imposes higher fines and penalties for drunk driving, blocking intersections and other traffic violations in the city.

Binay said the move is in line with the thrust of the city government to improve road safety and traffic flow in the country’s financial center, which has an average daily vehicular volume of 800,000 on regular workdays.

“The sheer volume of vehicles that ply our road network every day makes it necessary for us to take steps to ensure that motorists strictly abide by traffic rules and exercise discipline and courtesy on the road. We believe stiffer penalties are an effective deterrent to traffic violations that often cause accidents and traffic congestion,” Binay said.

The mayor said the ordinance has set higher fines for driving over a Yellow Box at an intersection, from P500 to P1,000 for the first offense, and for the second and third offenses, P2,500 and P5,000, respectively.

Disobedience to traffic control signals, on the other hand, will entail a fine of P2,500 and/or suspension of driver’s license and, for a public utility vehicle, suspension of Certificate of Public Convenience.

Binay said emphasis is being given on keeping intersections free and unobstructed because motorists, in trying to beat the red light, often enter the Yellow Box marking an intersection even if the path is not clear for an exit, and end up blocking the flow of traffic on all sides. The ordinance mandates a time limit of 15 seconds for a driver to move his or her vehicle out of a Yellow Box, reckoned from the time the traffic light facing him or her turns red.

Drunk drivers or those driving motor vehicles under the influence of drugs face stiffer sanctions in the city, as the ordinance, in addition to the P2,500 fine and/or imprisonment prescribed by the 2003 Traffic Code for the first offense, provides for the impounding of the vehicle.

The city will also strongly recommend to the Land Transportation Organization (LTO) the suspension or revocation of the drunk driver’s license.

In a related provision, business establishments will also be required to refrain from serving liquors or intoxicating beverages to customers driving a vehicle. They are also required to post reminders against drunk driving in conspicuous areas in their place of business.

Establishments that fail to comply with this provision will be slapped with a P2,500-fine and suspension of business permit for the first offense.

The ordinance also prescribes additional regulations for public utility vehicles that include jeepneys and taxis, and imposes a fine of P500 erring drivers, who will also be required to attend a seminar on traffic rules.

The ordinance mandates that PUVs must stop only at designated PUV stops or taxi stands for not more than 15 seconds to load or unload passengers, and must keep their vehicle’s front and rear tires within 18 inches of the roadside edge of the curb. PUVs are also prohibited from stopping at designated stops that are empty and when no passenger on board is requesting for a stop. Meanwhile, an empty taxi is prohibited from bypassing a taxi stand where passengers are waiting, unless said passengers indicate they do not wish to board the taxi.

The ordinance also modifies the ban on tricycles on national roads in Makati to include all roads within the Central Business District of the city, and increases the penalty for violators to P1,000 from P500, in addition to impounding of the tricycle.

All previous issuances, ordinances, rules and regulations or parts thereof which are inconsistent or in conflict with the provisions of the new ordinance are repealed and modified accordingly.

Meanwhile, provisions of the Makati Traffic Code not covered in the new amendments remain fully in effect.

On the orders of Mayor Binay, Makati traffic enforcers will also be strictly enforcing a related ordinance banning the use of cellular phones while driving, which sets a fine of P500 for the first offense, P1,000 for the second offense, and P3,000 or imprisonment for the third offense.

City Ordinance No. 2001-055 regulates the use of cellular phones, beepers and laser lights while driving or operating a motor vehicle and inside movie houses, theatres or places of worship where their use can cause nuisance.

A number of vehicular accidents have been traced to inattentive drivers who call or text using a mobile phone or similar gadgets while driving.

Makati Portal