‘No contact apprehension’ in GSC for illegal parking

GENERAL SANTOS CITY -The city government is eyeing to start implementing the “no contact apprehension” scheme for owners or drivers of motor vehicles that are illegally parked or obstructing public roads next month.

Mayor Ronnel Rivera said they are working with the Land Transportation Office (LTO)-Region 12 for the rollout of the scheme, which aims to enhance the government’s road clearing campaign in the city.

Rivera and LTO-12 Director Macario Gonzaga signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on Tuesday afternoon to facilitate the implementation.

The mayor said the move

is in support of the executive he issued last year that directs the “removal of all public nuisance found in all public roads and alleyways.”

“The no-contact apprehension will initially focus on illegally parked (motor) vehicles,” Rivera told reporters.

Based on the MOU, LTO12 will deputize all traffic enforcers of the city government and selected personnel of the city police to serve as the main implementers of the scheme.

Motor vehicles without drivers that will be found parking illegally will immediately be cited for obstruction and issued with Temporary Operator’s Permit or TOP from the LTO, the agreement states.

Moreover, the deputized traffic enforcers will attach the TOP on the vehicle’s windshield and take photos of the license plate for proper documentation of the committed violation. The concerned traffic enforce is required to submit an apprehension report within 24 hours to the LTO.

According to the MOU, if the driver or owner fails to immediately pay the corresponding fine or file a contest to the violation within 72 hours, the LTO, through its system, will place the vehicle on “alarm.”

For attended vehicles or those with drivers, the traffic enforcers may cite them for obstruction after parking in a pubic road for more than five minutes.

“We will implement this scheme once we complete the training of our deputized traffic enforcers and policemen,” Rivera said.

Gonzaga lauded the city government for adopting the scheme and sustaining the road clearing drive in the city.

He said the move is a big help to the agency, noting that they don’t have enough personnel to monitor and enforce traffic-related regulations on all public roads in the area.