MMDA reviving no-contact, on-cam tack vs erring drivers

SAYING the scheme was effective in enforcing discipline among motorists, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Tuesday said it would bring back the “no-physical-contact” apprehension policy starting next month.

In a resolution approved during a meeting of the Metro Manila Council, the MMDA’s policymaking body, the agency said the policy which relies on closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras was effective in catching traffic violators based on a six-month test period in 2011.

“We were able to apprehend more than 1,000 speeding motorists five years ago,” MMDA Chair Emerson Carlos said, recalling how summons for errant drivers grew into a pile on his desk at the time.

The agency first implemented the “no-contact” policy during the term of then MMDA Chair Bayani Fernando. It was revived in 2011 under the chairmanship of Francis Tolentino but only on Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City and Diosdado Macapagal Avenue in Pasay City.

The MMDA resolution will take effect on the first week of March, 15 days after its publication in a newspaper of national circulation.

This time, it will be implemented on major thoroughfares such as Edsa and C5, as well as other areas in Metro Manila where the MMDA has working CCTV cameras and traffic constables.

“We have more than 400 CCTV cameras in the entire Metro and we plan to add 160 more these coming months,” Carlos said.

However, the MMDA’s monitoring and apprehension will not be limited to CCTV cameras alone as traffic enforcers can use cell-phone and digital cameras to record violations.

A notice from the executive director of the Traffic Discipline Office will be sent to the owner or operator of the vehicle caught on video or photographed committing a traffic violation. The notice will indicate the date, time, location and traffic violation, along with a photograph or video clip of the incident.

“[We] will require the owner or operator of the vehicle on the photo or video to identify the driver and his or her address,” the MMDA said, adding that the recipient would be allowed to contest the violation with the MMDA Traffic Adjudication Division within seven days.

Carlos assured motorists that they would evaluate the footage before firing off a notice. “We will not send any summons if we have doubts [about the incident] or the details of the vehicle,” he said.

Should no protest be filed, a final notice will be sent to the violator, asking for the settlement of the corresponding fine.

Carlos said their ultimate aim was to instill discipline in motorists and make them aware that they could still be held liable for violations even without traffic enforcers around.

They also hope to minimize physical apprehension to prevent traffic buildup on thoroughfares and prevent incidents of extortion or bribery involving their enforcers, he added.

The MMDA clarified that its traffic constables would remain on the streets despite the no-contact policy. “This will just augment the traffic constables we have deployed along Metro roads,” Carlos said, noting that some violations cannot be determined just using CCTVs, like in the case of public utility vehicles operating illegally (colorum) or outside their approved routes.