THE Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, together with the Land Transportation Office and the Philippine National Police Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG), apprehended hundreds of motorists at the start of the implementation of higher penalties for violating exclusive bus lanes on Monday.

Stubborn motorists continue to violate the exclusive city bus lane even as MMDA Acting Chairman Atty. Don Artes warned motorists and riders that illegal use of the exclusive bus lane will receive higher penalties beginning November 13.

“For violators who run away from traffic enforcers to avoid apprehension, if you think that you were able to get away with it, your plate numbers will be recorded and reported to the LTO. You will automatically receive a penalty for the third offense: P20,000 plus a one-year suspension of your driver’s license,” Artes warned drivers and riders.

LTO Chief Assistant Secretary Vigor Mendoza II, PNP-HPG Chief Col. Manuel Placido, and MMDA General Manager Usec. Procopio Lipana likewise supervised the operations with the Inter-Agency Council for Traffic.

According to Artes, the increased fines for the violation of the exclusive city bus lane/EDSA carousel lane regulation for both public and private vehicles are:

* First Offense: P5,000,

* Second Offense: P10,000 plus one-month suspension of the driver’s license and required to undergo a road safety seminar,

* Third Offense: P20,000 plus one-year suspension of driver’s license, and

* Fourth Offense: P30,000 plus recommendation to the Land Transportation Office for revocation of driver’s license.

Mendoza said their operation is a whole-government approach to discipline on the road.

“In support of the MMDA, we shall penalize the escaping violators by placing their vehicles on alarm,” said Mendoza.

During operations on Monday morning, authorities have apprehended a total of 333 four-wheel vehicles and motorcycles as of 11 a.m. at different locations on EDSA. Joint operations continued with IACT, HPG, LTO, and other enforcement agencies.

The higher penalty for violators of the EDSA bus lane is under MMDA Resolution No. 23-002, which states that the fines will apply to both public and private vehicles that are not authorized to use the exclusive bus lane.

Exempted from the exclusive bus lane policy are EDSA Carousel passenger buses, emergency vehicles, and government-marked vehicles responding to emergencies.

Meanwhile, Artes also appealed to the Supreme Court to lift the temporary restraining order (TRO) on the No Contact Apprehension Policy or NCAP as soon as possible.

“We really need this kind of technology (NCAP) to monitor and implement traffic rules and regulations on Metro Manila roads,” said Artes, citing that the number of accidents has increased since the NCAP was suspended in August last year. NCAP utilizes closed-circuit television cameras to capture videos and images to apprehend vehicles violating traffic laws, rules, and regulations.

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Edd Reyes