‘Only LTO, LTFRB enforcers can apprehend colorum vehicles’

MANILA, Philippines - Traffic enforcers can still apprehend violators but only agents of the Land Transportation Office (LTO) and Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) can go after colorum or out-of-line and unlicensed vehicles.

”Only LTO and LTFRB law enforcement officers are authorized to apprehend colorum operation of motor vehicles and other franchise-related violations,” LTO chief Alfonso Tan Jr. said yesterday in an advisory.

The advisory was issued as Tan renewed  the deputation order of non-LTO and LTFRB enforcers for the start of the implementation of higher fines for colorum or unlicensed public utility vehicles (PUVs).

LTO spokesperson Jason Salvador said the order covers enforcers from the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, local government units and the Highway Patrol Group.

Transportation and Communications Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya said transport groups should not fear the revised fines and penalties if they are not violating traffic rules and regulations.

“Commuters put their safety in the hands of transport operators every day. It is government’s obligation to make sure that public utility vehicle operators are responsible in delivering their services. That is why we issued the joint administrative order,” he said.

Under Joint Administrative Order 2014-01, colorum bus operators will be fined P1 million; truck and van operators, P200,000; sedan operators, P120,000; jeepney owners, P50,000; and motorcycle operators, P6,000.

It also covers other PUV-related violations such as refusal to convey passengers to their destination; overcharging; employing reckless, insolent, discourteous or arrogant drivers; operating PUVs with defective parts; using tampered taxi meters, and trip cutting.

“We call on transport groups to be responsible in serving the public. Apart from obeying traffic rules, they should not abandon their obligation to commuters, many of whom had difficulty in getting rides today. If they continue to violate the conditions of their franchises, then what is the point of having them?” Abaya said.