Hugely public grandstanding

Rumor has it that highway shock troopers from the Imperial north have descended upon our province. According to talks around the paddock, these Imperial troopers are here to wreak havoc upon the peace loving denizens who own second-hand motor vehicles imported after the year 2006. But why are they only after used vehicles imported after 2006?

If one were to recall the events leading to the reimplementation of Executive Order 156, series 2002, (Providing for a Comprehensive Industrial Policy and Directions for the Motor Vehicle Development Program and its Implementing Guidelines), it can clearly be understood why the year 2006 is the cut-off point. From vehicle importers declaring the unconstitutionality of such order in 2003 to back and forth appeals and reconsiderations until the decision in 2006 by the highest tribunal, EO 156 went through a lot before it was finally declared legal.

That was until 2008 when a prehistoric, and recently revealed to be allegedly crooked, statesman stepped in and voiced his opinion regarding the impact, the EO was having on his alleged personal interests in his home province. The importers in his hometown followed their statesman’s lead and fought for the repeal of the law. In 2010 the regional court junked their appeal but the appellate court lifted the ban the year after. The highest tribunal put its foot down on this circus by reversing the decision of the appellate court in 2013 by stating that they found EO 156 a valid policepower measure addressing an urgent national concern. So back to the presence of the Imperial shock troopers. I have personally seen an increased number of checkpoints manned by the Imperial troopers-reinforced traffic group specifically flagging down surplus and luxury vehicles. You get your occasional moped and scooter-only checkpoints, but that’s usually done by the local blue boys. It is a very sad picture. In fact, it is downright an insult for the local boys to be relegated to second-hand traffic work in their own backyard. Part of me thinks the reason why the Imperial troopers are handling the “surplus” job is because our local boys are too inept and cannot do the task they had sworn to do. Part of me also thinks that the invasion from the north could possibly be because there are so many big fishes in this little pond of ours and they probably heard the pickings are good here.

Whichever one it is, or whatever the real reason is behind the arrival of the Imperial troopers from the north, owners of second-hand motor vehicles imported after 2006 are tiptoeing around town. One would’ve thought that this would decongest the roads as our streets are usually flooded with such vehicles. Sadly, this is not the case. For the grandstanding “we-are-implementing-the-law” troopers do their checkpoints during afternoon to evening rush hour.

I often ask myself why they put up checkpoints at the most inconvenient times. I can only guess that they do it that way because that’s when people pay less attention to possible “negotiations” as they are all in a rush to get home.