Davao City traffic body nets 100K violators in a year

DAVAO CITY – The City Transport and Traffic Management Office (CTTMO) here has recorded over 100,000 traffic violators as the implementation of the Traffic Citation Tickets turns one year on Thursday, September 13.

Of the 107,531 violators, 66,714 were drivers and 40,817 were jaywalkers, said CTTMO Chief Dionisio Abude.

Abude said that of the 66,714 drivers only 52,909 settled by paying corresponding penalties for various violations, while the other 13,805 would remain in the record of the Land Transportation Office (LTO).

“They cannot renew their driving license with LTO anywhere in the country until the drivers settle the penalty,” Abude told the I-Speak forum at City Hall on Thursday.

Abude said the highest number of traffic violations were for obstruction with 10,535 violators, followed by disregarding traffic signs with 10,364 violators, not wearing seatbelts with 9,945 violators, speeding with 5,214, truck ban with 4,731 and no safety helmets with 4,580 violators.

On the other hand, only 27,000 of the 40,817 violators of the anti-Jaywalking have settled their penalties with the CTTMO.

In the coming months, Abude said CTTMO will file cases against the violators who failed to settle the penalty. Previously, violators of the Anti-Jaywalking Ordinance were only made to undergo a seminar.

Under the City Traffic Citation Ticket (CTCT), jaywalkers are fined PHP100 or undergo a compulsory 4-hour community service.

CTTMO traffic enforcers started issuing citation tickets and stricter penalties in September last year to strengthen the implementation of traffic laws and instill discipline among road users and pedestrians.

CTTMO also trained 450 traffic enforcers on the procedure of dispensing the Traffic Citation Ticket law.

Under the law, violators will be fined PHP1,500 for reckless and dangerous driving; no wearing of seatbelts (PHP300); speed limit violation (PHP500); no safety helmets (PHP500); no registration (PHP500); modification of mufflers on motorcycle (PHP500); no driver’s license (PHP500); excess passenger (PHP500);

Illegal parking (PHP500); failure to switch headlights (PHP1,000); obstruction (PHP500); truck ban violation (PHP1000); disregarding traffic signs (PHP500); no PUV driver’s ID (PHP1000); loading and unloading of passengers in undesignated areas (PHP1000) and driving under the influence of alcohol/drugs (PHP5,000). (Lilian C. Mellejor/PNA)