MMDA cracks down on traffic violators

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) will soon collect the records of traffic violators among private motorists and public utility jeepney (PUJ) drivers as it goes after repeat and excessive traffic violators.

The crackdown came after the MMDA announced on Tuesday it will suspend 100 to 1,000 public utility bus (PUB) drivers after a probe found that more than 1,700 of them had committed at least 100 traffic violations since 2006.

In a media briefing, MMDA General Manager Arturo Garcia said the crackdown will start with PUB drivers because of their sheer number, but efforts to collect the records of both private motorists and PUJ drivers have also begun.

“Bus drivers are numerous because they are the ones exposed in the streets. But I’m already asking for the records of private motorists,” Garcia said.

He said that because PUJ drivers are not allowed on EDSA which leaves them outside the scope of the MMDA, coordination has been made with the local governments of Quezon City and Manila to collect the records of violations made by these drivers.

“I have asked for the records of traffic violations. So, we will suspend or revoke the licenses of all these irresponsible PUJ drivers,” he said.

Bus and jeepney operators have been warned to make sure their units are not driven by those with suspended licenses or else, their vehicles would be impounded.

He added that a list of PUB drivers with suspended licenses will soon be given to PUB operators.

Lt. Col. Emmanuel Tabuena, Philippine National Police - Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG) Traffic Enforcement Unit chief, said once the PNP-HPG receives the list of suspended drivers, they will automatically be apprehended if found behind the wheel.

“We will automatically apprehend them. We will help the Land Transportation Office so these suspended drivers won’t drive in our streets,” Garcia said.