A proposal that sought to reduce fines for all unpaid traffic violations committed on or before Dec. 31, 2020 is being deliberated at the city council.
The proposed ordinance was introduced by the city council’s committee on public utilities, transportation and traffic legislation as a response to the request of Mayor Benjamin Magalong and Traffic and Transportation Management Division (TTMD) Head Januario Borillo.
Magalong and Borillo requested the council to enact an ordinance granting a one-time amnesty program for unpaid traffic violations in order to provide opportunity for erring motorists to pay their outstanding fines and subsequently claim their confiscated vehicle registration plate.
In his letter dated Aug. 23, Magalong informed the legislative body 2,166 registration plates of vehicles and motorcycles are still unclaimed at the Traffic Enforcement Unit of the Baguio City Police Office.
Borillo forwarded to the city council a list of the confiscated license plates for possible legislative action.
Councilor Benny Bomogao said these confiscated items “take up space” and “affect the efficiency of the said office.”
The ordinance will cover traffic citation tickets (TCTs) issued to motorists on or before Dec. 31, 2020 for having violated the traffic and transportation ordinances of the city.
All fines, as proposed by the ordinance, shall be reduced to P2,000.
Traffic violators covered by the ordinance upon its enactment may redeem their confiscated driver’s license card or registration plate upon paying their reduced fines within a period of three months.
The proposed ordinance provides license plates not redeemed within threemonths will be forwarded to the Land Transportation Office for proper action and disposal.
The proposed measure has been referred to the committee on public utility, transportation, and traffic legislation for review.
The city government and the Land Transportation Office-Cordillera forged an agreement for the proper disposal of unclaimed registration plates of motor vehicles confiscated by police officers, deputized Public Order and Safety Division personnel, and barangay officials.
LTO-Cordillera Director Francis Ray Almora said the agreement is part of the efforts to implement the policy on the no-detachment of license plates as it is considered the private property of the owner. – Jordan G. Habbiling w/ a report from PIO
April 20, 2024
