Highway patrol operations Impound 44 motorcycles

CEBU, Philippines - The Provincial Highway Patrol Team (HPT) of Negros Oriental, in just a one-day operation in Dumaguete City Thursday, flagged down and impounded 44 motorcycles due to various traffic violations of owners.

Among the traffic violations were driving without license, absence of registration documents, no side mirrors, and using modified mufflers, according to Senior Inspector Robelito Mariano, HPT leader.

Mariano, however, said the impact would have been greater if temporary operators permits (TOP) were issued to the violators, so owners of the impounded motorcycles would find it hard to redeem their units.

Under the TOP, the penalties to be paid when redeeming impounded motorcycles are: P5,000 for using modified mufflers, P10,000 for no registration, P3,000 for driving without license, and P1,500 for having no side mirrors.

Mariano said only citation tickets were issued, which carry penalties of P500 only for modified mufflers, and P100 for lack of side mirrors.

Confiscated mufflers and other gadgets will be turned over to the Dumaguete City government for disposal, but the problem now of the HPT is the lack of enough space for impounding area. (FREEMAN)