MMDA to re-implement no-contact apprehension policy

MANILA, Philippines - The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) will be re-implementing the “no-contact apprehension policy” on erring motorists on the major roads of Metro Manila, including EDSA and Commonwealth Avenue.

In its regular meeting on Tuesday, the Metro Manila Council (MMC) that serves as the policy-making body of the MMDA approved the resolution that would re-implement the policy.

According to MMDA Chair Emerson Carlos, the measure will be re-implemented starting next month after the publication of the MMC resolution in major newspapers.

Carlos said the MMDA would be making use of closed circuit television cameras (CCTVs) positioned on the roads and on cameras held by traffic enforcers in catching images of erring motorists.

Carlos cited the success of the “no-contact policy” in the MMDA’s drive against speeding motorists on Commonwealth and Diosdado Macapagal avenues in 2011.

“There had been piles of summons regarding the violations caught with the No Contact Policy on my desk which proved its effectiveness,” Carlos said.

He added that the traffic violation receipt for the MMDA’s No Contact Policy had never been questioned before the courts.

Carlos said the MMDA’s policy was shelved during the time of former MMDA chief Bayani Fernando because apprehended motorists were required to first pay their fine before they are allowed to contest the apprehension during adjudication.

“But with the new guidelines, we let the motorists to contest the violations,” Carlos said. He added that all of the motorists who received the summons have not questioned apprehension.

Meanwhile, the MMDA will be installing additional 160 CCTV cameras in strategic areas in Metro Manila for its no-contact apprehension operation.

It would be recalled that the MMDA had previously implemented the policy during Fernando’s term as the “Non-Contact Traffic Apprehension Program (NCTAP). The no contact policy was approved under Fernando’s term for a six-month experimental run starting July 23, 2009.

It was revived during the time of then MMDA Chair Francis Tolentino to catch speeding motorists on Commonwealth and Diosdado Macapagal avenues.

According to Carlos, the policy aims to prevent extortion in the ranks of traffic enforcers.

Under the policy, an erring motorist caught by the CCTV camera will be sent a notice by the MMDA giving him or her seven days from receipt to pay his or her corresponding fines or file an appeal of the apprehension for review.

The MMDA’s notice contains the image or photo clip of the vehicle of the erring driver while in the act of violating traffic rules. The notice will also detail the date, time, location and the nature of the traffic infraction.

After the lapse of the seven-day period and the notice has not been settled, the MMDA will then send the motorist a final notice informing him or her to immediately settle his or her citation ticket.

The MMDA will then forward the driver’s license number of the motorist to the Land Transportation Office if payment has not been made after the receipt of the final notice.

The non-paying motorist will not be able to renew his or her driver’s license with the LTO in the future until he or she has paid his traffic dues. - with interns Marco Concepcion and Joshua Patlin