Nationwide single traffic ticketing system proposed
Posted on September 18th, 2009
Party-list Representative Vigor D. Mendoza II has filed a bill that seeks to establish a single traffic ticketing system nationwide that would consolidate penalty rules that are currently set by local government units (LGUs). The House Bill 6652 would require all traffic enforcers to issue a single traffic ticket that would come from the Land Transportation Office (LTO).
In Mendoza’s proposal, the LTO would be collecting all the proceeds from penalties and fine and they will take charge of the revenue sharing for LGUs. An “electronic apprehension scheme†is also required to be set up through the installation of closed-circuit television cameras, digital cameras, electronic sensors and other devices.
Mendoza said, the different local ordinances defining traffic violations and with different fines has led to confusion among drivers and traffic enforcers. “Unfortunately, aforesaid local ordinances are not homogenous with each other, worst, every local traffic enforcer exclusively recognizes their locality’s own traffic citation ticket and considers ineffective all other traffic citation tickets issued by other localities,†he said.
In the Local Government Code, LGUs are allowed to set their own traffic rules and regulations, which was said to cause confusion particularly in Metro Manila.
For instance, in the National Capital Region, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo issued Executive Order (EO) 712 last March 12, 2008 which required the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) to implement a single ticketing system. Unfortunately, this hasn’t been done by the MMDA.
“Despite aforecited clear directive of the EO, the MMDA still has not established a single ticketing system to the prejudice and injury of all motorists, drivers and operators of public and private vehicles,†Mendoza said.
The same EO also directed the Department of Transportation and Communication to review all LGU order, rules, regulations on public transportation, including the authority to issue traffic citation tickets and grant franchises to tricycles, among others.
House Bill 6652 has been referred to the committee on transportation.
