Traffic office arrests 150 jaywalkers

DAVAO CITY—The City Transport and Traffic Management Office (CTTMO) apprehended some 150 violators of the city’s jaywalking ordinance on the first day of the reimplementation of the measure.

The CTTMO began the crackdown on violating pedestrians as a revamp of the traffic ordinances here. The apprehensions were scheduled to begin Dec. 1.

Violators face a fine ranging from 1100 to four hours of community service as determined by the City Social Services and Development Office.

For the first days of the implementation, the CTTMO focused on four key intersections.

These were the intersections and crosswalk/overpass areas at Matina Crossing, NCCC Mall in Maa, Gaisano Mall, and the Davao City Recreation Center (formerly Almendras Gym) along Quimpo Boulevard.

On the streets, pedestrians were amused and partly scared by roving anti-jaywalking trucks with tarps reminding the public of the possible consequences.

The CTTMO has initiated various measures such as shame campaigns to fines in the past.

Before the implementation, traffic officials and standby mobile units used their megaphones to publicly call out violators not using pedestrian crosswalks or overpasses.

The CTTMO will be implementing the ordinance in full once the dry run in the four areas is complete.