MMDA amending ‘No-Contact’ scheme

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) is now working on amending several provisions of the No-Contact Traffic Apprehension (NCTA) scheme in an effort to address concerns raised by transport groups affected by its implementation.

Officials hope to make the program "friendlier and at the same time more efficient in so far as the use of digital or video cameras is concerned."

Under proposed amendments, the MMDA is being tasked to employ only the services of well-trained personnel who will man specific areas where photographs of traffic violators will be taken.

They will have to undergo trainings and seminars so they can be transformed into semi-professional photographers who know what and when to shoot.

Photographs will have to be taken under best lighting conditions which will clearly show the traffic law violated.

The picture must also reveal the license plate or at least the body number of a vehicle if the same is a bus or a taxicab.

These amendments were offered in response to complaints lodged against the NCTA scheme, which was tagged to as an unfair way to apprehend traffic violators especially along EDSA.

Transport groups are even batting for its abolition along with two other MMDA traffic schemes — the Organized Bus Route (OBR) program and the Metro Traffic Ticket (MTT) system.

MMDA Chairman Bayani Fernando, hoping to convince passenger bus, jeepney, and taxi operators that the NCTA is an effective way of making motorists follow the law, opened the door to improvements.

The proposed amendments will also give apprehended violators a chance to question the apprehension since they can easily verify records of the photographs taken at the MMDA.

However, those wanting to have a look at MMDA photo records stored in computers will have to pay a fee for the trouble of having to dig into files and pictures.

Fernando sent draft copies of the NCTA amendments for the consideration of concerned transport groups.

He also included proposed improvements in other traffic regulations usually complained of like towing and ticketing operations. – Michael Punongbayan