Makati summons erring motorists

MANILA, Philippines - The Makati City government has began issuing summons to owners of some 1,500 vehicles that were issued violation tickets for smoke belching by enforcers of the Makati Pollution Control Office (MPCO) to redeem their confiscated license plates and pay the required fines.

Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin Binay ordered the city’s Legal Department to issue summons to the erring motorists after learning that the fines have not been settled after 72 hours following the confiscation of the license plates.

Under Republic Act 8749 or the Clean Air Act, operators or drivers of vehicles caught for smoke belching are given 72 hours or three days to claim confiscated plates and pay the corresponding penalties as follows: First offense – P1,000; Second offense – P2,000; and Third offense – P3,000. Their vehicles are also required to pass the smoke emission testing before settlement of the penalty.

Binay also warned erring motorists to refrain from executing affidavits of loss for their confiscated license plates before the Land Transportation Office (LTO) just to avoid paying the fines.

“We should not allow this fraudulent practice to continue.  I have ordered the MPCO to coordinate with LTO to establish an efficient monitoring system that would block any attempt to skirt round the law and obtain new license plates to replace those that are actually in the custody of MPCO,” Binay said.

In the first four months of the year, the MPCO had apprehended a total of 2,009 vehicles for smoke belching and had remitted P63,500 in fines to the city coffers, increasing by 18 percent its contribution for the same period last year.

For complaints, reports or inquiries, the public can reach MPCO through Facebook and its Twitter account, Mpco_2k13, or through TXTASBU at 0926-9911222.