Cameras to be installed in Manila to record traffic violations

MANILA, Philippines — Next time you drive over a yellow box in the City of Manila, don’t be surprised if you get your traffic violation ticket through mail.

The local government will soon install cameras at major road intersections after the City Council has included a “non-contact apprehension approach” in the amendments to the Traffic Management Code.

Under the policy, there would be less traffic enforcers on the road and violations would be captured by monitoring cameras, Councilor Letlet Zarcal, chair of the city council’s transportation committee, said in a recent forum.

The city government has been coordinating with the Land Transportation Office for access to vehicle registration database, Zarcal said, adding that they have been ironing out the terms of agreement for enforcing and collecting penalties.

The cameras will be installed at five major thoroughfares identified by the city council: Quirino Avenue-Osmeña Highway, España Boulevard-A. Lacson Avenue, Dimasalang-A. Lacson Avenue, Pedro Gil-Taft Avenue, and Tayuman Street-Rizal Avenue, according to the plan discussed by Zarcal.

Zarcal said the measure, which would likely be implemented at the end of the year, would be line with Mayor Joseph Estrada’s pronouncement to get rid of “kotong” (extortionist) cops and traffic enforcers.

The most common traffic offense has been the yellow box violation, said Zarcal, the former head of the Manila Traffic and Parking Bureau (MTPB). The yellow box refers to the criss-cross diagonal lines painted on road intersections designed to prevent traffic gridlock. Vehicles should not enter the box unless the exit lane is clear.

Cameras covering three angles will be hooked up to the traffic lights. When the signal turns red, the motion-sensor camera will scan the yellow box for violators. It will zoom in and capture the plate number of the erring vehicle.

The violation ticket will be issued by the MTPB to the registered owner through mail, along with the photo of the incident. Violators will have to pay the fine in order to renew their driver’s license or vehicle registration.

In case of sold vehicles, Zarcal said it would be the responsibility of the seller to ensure the transfer of registration to the buyer.

The cameras will also be linked to the command center for traffic, disaster and emergency purposes being put up at City Hall.

The non-contact apprehension policy will be implemented through a private-public partnership program, where the selected company will provide the monitoring cameras and get 30 percent from the penalty collection.