Warning to traffic violators: You are being 'shot'
Warning to traffic violators: You are being 'shot'
Posted 11:25pm (Mla time) Jan 25, 2005
By Neal Cruz
Inquirer News Service
Editor's Note: Published on page A12 of the January 26, 2005 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer
HERE'S a warning to jaywalkers and undisciplined drivers: You think you are getting away scot-free when those aging, shabby-looking traffic aides of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority don't arrest you for violating traffic rules? You don't. In a few days or weeks, you will receive a letter from the MMDA telling you that you have just been "shot" (meaning, photographed) violating a traffic rule and you have to pay the fine at the nearest bank.
Yes, the traffic aides directing traffic act as though they are blind, oblivious to the traffic violations right and left, but you are not really getting off easily. Other traffic aides are surreptitiously taking pictures of you and your vehicle, undeniable proof of your violations, and you have to pay the fine, or else....
What if the driver or jaywalker disregards the letter and does not pay the fine? Again, you will think you are getting away with it. Nothing will happen for weeks and months. You may even commit more violations with no apparent repercussions. But wait until you try to renew your driver's license at the Land Transportation Office. Your name will appear in the computers as a delinquent driver and your license will not be renewed. You may even go to jail.
The penalty for traffic violations, including jaywalking, is a mere warning for the first offense, a fine for the second offense, and a jail term for the third.
MMDA Chair Bayani Fernando explained at the Kapihan sa Manila last Monday other aspects of his campaign to impose traffic order in the metropolis, including his tiff (he calls it "misunderstanding") with a few mayors over the "wet-flag scheme."
"There are only three or four mayors (opposing the 'wet flag')," said Fernando, "but there are 17 Metro Manila mayors. And these three probably thought that the 'wet-flag' scheme will douse pedestrians with water like they do in San Juan during the feast of St. John the Baptist. No, the 'wet flag' will only wet them to remind them to get off the street."
And here's another warning from Fernando: You think that after the trucks with the "wet flags" pass, you can safely step back into the street to wait for your ride? Don't. There are prison buses following those trucks. If you go back to the street, you will be arrested, thrown into these prison buses and taken to police headquarters where you will be booked and made to pay hefty fines, or jailed if you are a recidivist. The "wet flag" is just a warning of more dire consequences coming behind.
Why don't they just arrest the jaywalkers outright without resorting to the "wet flag''?
"We don't really want to arrest people," replied Fernando. "It's embarrassing to them, is a waste of time, and is hard on their pockets. Arrest is only the last resort. The 'wet flag' is just a fair warning. But if they persist in violating traffic rules, we have no choice but to arrest them."
As for the alleged violation of human rights, what right is being violated? Fernando asked. What gives the jaywalkers the right to wait for rides on the street and disrupt the smooth flow of traffic? Isn't getting slightly wet so much better than being arrested and fined?
The trouble is that when others see violators not being arrested by the traffic aides visible nearby, they think those traffic aides are inutile or are afraid of the drivers and jaywalkers and follow suit, Fernando was told.
"That's their mistake. Sooner or later, the long arm of the law will catch up with them. And then they will learn their lesson," the MMDA chief replied.
Why don't you make a show of arresting the violators so that others will obey the rules? When people know that erring drivers and jaywalkers are being arrested, they suddenly become law-abiding.
"The trouble with that is that they get into the habit of obeying the law only when they see law enforcers. But they should get into the habit of obeying the law at all times, even when there is no policeman around," Fernando said. "When they learn that they are being photographed by somebody they cannot see and that the summons to pay the fine will come soon enough, they will also learn that 'big brother is watching' them and they will be careful."
"Besides," Fernando continued, "when there is contact between the violator and the traffic aide, that's where the temptation for bribery comes in. The 'no-contact' rule removes that temptation."
Pedestrians are forced to walk in the streets because the sidewalks are full of parked vehicles, if not sidewalk vendors, Fernando was told.
The vendors were allowed to go back to the sidewalks by some mayors during the Christmas season but this privilege should be removed now that the holidays are over, he said. As for the parked vehicles, there really is a shortage of parking spaces in Metro Manila. It is the responsibility of local government units to provide those parking spaces, either by constructing parking buildings themselves, or by giving private business incentives such as tax holidays or loans to construct them. They also should not give commercial establishments business permits unless they can show that they have ample parking space nearby and will not use the sidewalks for parking. Parking buildings earn a lot of money with a minimum of effort and investment.
Posted 11:25pm (Mla time) Jan 25, 2005
By Neal Cruz
Inquirer News Service
Editor's Note: Published on page A12 of the January 26, 2005 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer
HERE'S a warning to jaywalkers and undisciplined drivers: You think you are getting away scot-free when those aging, shabby-looking traffic aides of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority don't arrest you for violating traffic rules? You don't. In a few days or weeks, you will receive a letter from the MMDA telling you that you have just been "shot" (meaning, photographed) violating a traffic rule and you have to pay the fine at the nearest bank.
Yes, the traffic aides directing traffic act as though they are blind, oblivious to the traffic violations right and left, but you are not really getting off easily. Other traffic aides are surreptitiously taking pictures of you and your vehicle, undeniable proof of your violations, and you have to pay the fine, or else....
What if the driver or jaywalker disregards the letter and does not pay the fine? Again, you will think you are getting away with it. Nothing will happen for weeks and months. You may even commit more violations with no apparent repercussions. But wait until you try to renew your driver's license at the Land Transportation Office. Your name will appear in the computers as a delinquent driver and your license will not be renewed. You may even go to jail.
The penalty for traffic violations, including jaywalking, is a mere warning for the first offense, a fine for the second offense, and a jail term for the third.
MMDA Chair Bayani Fernando explained at the Kapihan sa Manila last Monday other aspects of his campaign to impose traffic order in the metropolis, including his tiff (he calls it "misunderstanding") with a few mayors over the "wet-flag scheme."
"There are only three or four mayors (opposing the 'wet flag')," said Fernando, "but there are 17 Metro Manila mayors. And these three probably thought that the 'wet-flag' scheme will douse pedestrians with water like they do in San Juan during the feast of St. John the Baptist. No, the 'wet flag' will only wet them to remind them to get off the street."
And here's another warning from Fernando: You think that after the trucks with the "wet flags" pass, you can safely step back into the street to wait for your ride? Don't. There are prison buses following those trucks. If you go back to the street, you will be arrested, thrown into these prison buses and taken to police headquarters where you will be booked and made to pay hefty fines, or jailed if you are a recidivist. The "wet flag" is just a warning of more dire consequences coming behind.
Why don't they just arrest the jaywalkers outright without resorting to the "wet flag''?
"We don't really want to arrest people," replied Fernando. "It's embarrassing to them, is a waste of time, and is hard on their pockets. Arrest is only the last resort. The 'wet flag' is just a fair warning. But if they persist in violating traffic rules, we have no choice but to arrest them."
As for the alleged violation of human rights, what right is being violated? Fernando asked. What gives the jaywalkers the right to wait for rides on the street and disrupt the smooth flow of traffic? Isn't getting slightly wet so much better than being arrested and fined?
The trouble is that when others see violators not being arrested by the traffic aides visible nearby, they think those traffic aides are inutile or are afraid of the drivers and jaywalkers and follow suit, Fernando was told.
"That's their mistake. Sooner or later, the long arm of the law will catch up with them. And then they will learn their lesson," the MMDA chief replied.
Why don't you make a show of arresting the violators so that others will obey the rules? When people know that erring drivers and jaywalkers are being arrested, they suddenly become law-abiding.
"The trouble with that is that they get into the habit of obeying the law only when they see law enforcers. But they should get into the habit of obeying the law at all times, even when there is no policeman around," Fernando said. "When they learn that they are being photographed by somebody they cannot see and that the summons to pay the fine will come soon enough, they will also learn that 'big brother is watching' them and they will be careful."
"Besides," Fernando continued, "when there is contact between the violator and the traffic aide, that's where the temptation for bribery comes in. The 'no-contact' rule removes that temptation."
Pedestrians are forced to walk in the streets because the sidewalks are full of parked vehicles, if not sidewalk vendors, Fernando was told.
The vendors were allowed to go back to the sidewalks by some mayors during the Christmas season but this privilege should be removed now that the holidays are over, he said. As for the parked vehicles, there really is a shortage of parking spaces in Metro Manila. It is the responsibility of local government units to provide those parking spaces, either by constructing parking buildings themselves, or by giving private business incentives such as tax holidays or loans to construct them. They also should not give commercial establishments business permits unless they can show that they have ample parking space nearby and will not use the sidewalks for parking. Parking buildings earn a lot of money with a minimum of effort and investment.
posted by Dante at 5:15 PM
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