Over 5T traffic violators apprehended by SBLB

CEBU, Philippines — Over 5,000 traffic violators have been issued citation tickets by the members of Sugbo Bike Lanes Board during the first seven months of 2023.

Bernard Maraasin, executive director of Sugbo Bike Lanes Board, said that having been deputized by the Cebu City Transportation Office (CCTO) to enforce traffic rules in the city they have made apprehensions even outside the designated bike lanes.

Maraasin said the SBLB is doing its best to help CCTO enforce the traffic rules despite the limited personnel they have. He said SBLB used to have 60 personnel but now they are left with only 20. Maraasin noted that most of the violators apprehended were public utility drivers.

According to Maraasin, violators apprehended by their personnel will have to settle their fines not with the SBLB but with the CCTO.

“Nagkadaghan ang mga badlongon,” Maraasin said.

He also noted that most drivers are just ignoring the citation tickets. Some would even tell the enforcers that they have plenty of it already and that nothing happened to them. Maraasin said they are looking at the possibility of the SBLB filing directly a case against bike lanes violators.

“Amo pa ning tan-awan kung unsaon nga pareho sauna, pina citizen’s arrest, kami derecho mopasaka og kaso aning mga mo-violate mismo under the bike lanes,” Maraasin said. —/FPL (FREEMAN)