The suspension of the no-contact apprehension policy (NCAP) has emboldened motorists and car owners to violate traffic rules and ordinances in the metropolis, according to the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA).
A total of 256,977 traffic violations have been recorded since the policy was suspended in August last year. Some of the violations monitored by the MMDA were disregarding traffic signs, number coding, loading and unloading, traffic obstruction, dress code, illegal parking, the Anti-Distracted Driving Act, reckless driving, and no crash helmet.
Monthly traffic violations also increased from 9,500 to 32,000 in May, the MMDA reported.
“Noong bago ma-suspend ang NCAP, nasa 9,500 ang average per month ng mga taong lumalabag po sa batas trapiko. Pagkatapos naman ma-suspend ang NCAP, tumaas sa susunod na buwan ng 22,000 at noong Mayo umabot naman ng 32,000 na po ang violations,” said MMDA spokesperson Melissa Carunungan.
MMDA chairman Romando Artes reminded motorists to observe road discipline and obey traffic laws even without the NCAP. He said despite the suspension, monitoring of traffic violators by the agency continues using its closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras.
The MMDA had suspended the implementation of the NCAP — using high definition CCTV cameras installed on major thorughfares — in compliance with a Supreme Court’s temporary restraining order against the policy.
The High Tribunal ruling also prompted the MMDA to put more traffic personnel on-the-ground to cover the areas where NCAP cameras are situated. These areas include Epifanio de los Santos Avenue, Commonwealth Avenue, Quezon Avenue, Roxas Boulevard, Circumferential Road – 5 (C-5 Road), and Macapagal Boulevard.
The MMDA had enforced NCAP on the basis of Resolution 16-01 which became effective in 2016.
It stated that compared to local government units in the National Capital Region that implement it, the MMDA NCAP is in-house and the CCTV cameras are owned by the MMDA. There are also no third party service providers operating it.
The fines or penalties imposed by the MMDA on violators are also lower compared to the local government units, but the MMDA respects their autonomy and power to enforce their own traffic ordinances on the roads under their jurisdiction.
The MMDA stated that NCAP has been effective in catching illegally parked vehicles and other traffic violations with the help of CCTVs, digital cameras and other handheld devices.