Drivers face up to P10,000 penalty under NCR’s unified traffic ticket system

FILE PHOTO: A Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) traffic enforcer. – On February 1, 2023,  The Metro Manila Council approved a traffic code authorizing a single traffic ticket system which imposes uniform penalties of up to P10,000 against erring drivers in Metro Manila. INQUIRER/GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE

MANILA, Philippines — Erring drivers in Metro Manila can be fined up to P10,000 under the new standardized traffic citations in the capital region which may start in April.

Based on the traffic code approved by the Metro Manila Council (MMC) on February 1, car drivers can be fined up to P5,000 for failure to use a child seat while motorcyclists can be fined up to P10,000 for violation of children’s safety under the new single traffic ticket system.

The traffic fines or penalties would be uniform across Metro Manila under the new scheme which still enforces existing traffic rules and regulations, including special laws such as Republic Act 11229, or the Child Safety in Motor Vehicles Act that requires the use of Child Restraint System (CRS) or a child seat when driving with children younger than 12 years old, and Children’s Safety on Motorcycle Act.

Violation of the Child Safety in Motor Vehicles Act, for example, will impose a P1,000-fine against a driver on the first offense; P2,000 on the second offense; and P5,000 on the third and subsequent offenses.

The penalty for the using substandard CRS will be P1,000, P3,000 and P5,000 on the first offense, second offense and the third and subsequent offenses, respectively.

READ: Metro Manila mayors OK single ticketing system in NCR

Violation of the Children’s Safety on Motorcycle Act, on the other hand, comes with a fine of P3,000 on the first offense; P5,000 on the second offense; and P10,000 on the third and subsequent offenses.

Under the Children’s Safety on Motorcycle Act, children are prohibited to ride motorcycles unless:

(a) The child passenger can comfortably reach his/her feet on the standard foot peg of the motorcycle;

(b) The child’s arms can reach around and grasp the waist of the motorcycle rider; and

(c) The child is wearing a standard protective helmet referred to under Republic Act No. 10054, otherwise known as the “Motorcycle Helmet Act of 2009.”

Other violations under special laws

The centralized fine for failure to use a seatbelt is P1,000 regardless of the number of times a driver commits the offense.

READ: MMDA, LTO, local traffic heads approve final draft for single ticketing system

Fines for motorcycle riders who do not use a helmet is P1,500, P3,000, and P5,000 for the first, second, and third offense, respectively, and P10,000 for subsequent breaches.

Motorcyclists caught wearing helmets with no marking of Import Commodity Clearance or ICC will also be fined P3,000 for the first offense and P5,000 for subsequent offenses.

According to the MMC, the Metro Manila Code – by extension, the single traffic ticket system – will allow violators to settle their penalties remotely and online.

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