MMDA: More violators caught by enforcers than CCTV cameras

MORE motorists were apprehended personally by traffic constables compared with  those caught through the “no-contact apprehension” policy, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said on Monday.

Since the start of the contact-less apprehension policy on April 15, more than 3,000 violations were captured on the agency’s high-definition closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras, the MMDA told the Inquirer. On the other hand, its traffic enforcers caught more than 5,000 violators during the same period.

No-contact apprehension policy head Ronnie Rivera said this showed that the new scheme was effective in providing support to their constables and boosting the MMDA’s aim to strengthen the enforcement of traffic rules in the metropolis.

“It means that our traffic enforcers are doing their jobs and we are helping them by apprehending 3,000 more,” Rivera said.

During the agency’s weekly radio program on Sunday, MMDA Public Concerns head Goddess Hope Libiran said of the 2,962 traffic violations they recorded in the first week of the scheme’s implementation, 300 led to the issuance of notices to the drivers concerned. The notices were sent out last week by courier mail for private motorists while those for bus companies were personally delivered by the MMDA’s personnel.

“We are expecting recipients to contest those summons by Monday or Tuesday,” Libiran added.

She explained that before sending out the notices to the errant drivers, the MMDA reviews the footage of each alleged violation thrice.

“The first evaluation is done by the team leaders of the no-contact apprehension team,” Libiran said. “The team that will print the summons will also review the violation prior to the evaluation by the Traffic Adjudication Division which will hear the [protests] of the motorists,” she added.