Motorists driving through and around Makati City, take note. Makati’s public safety department (MAPSA) has directed its traffic enforcers to refrain from confiscating licenses of motorists caught committing traffic violations.
Motorists driving in Makati City won't have to worry about their license being confiscated for now
The instruction was issued on Tuesday, December 13. This was in accordance with the agreement made by Metro Manila’s 17 mayors to suspend license confiscation for traffic infractions, in preparation for a single ticketing system in the National Capital Region (NCR).
According to the memo issued by the local government of Makati City, motorists who commit a traffic offense may not have their licenses taken from them. However, they will still be issued the corresponding Ordinance Violation Receipt or OVR by a MAPSA traffic enforcer.
The erring motorist will then have five days to pay the fine. Failure to do so will result in the city government filing charges against the driver.
A court case awaits those who don't settle the fine promptly
Among other cities in Metro Manila, Makati is known for adopting a much more stringent set of traffic rules, particularly the number coding system. While the standard coding scheme implemented by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) allows for window hours between 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on weekdays, Makati enforces its own number coding for the whole day, from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
The city’s decision to suspend confiscation of licenses from erring drivers came three days after the Metro Manila Council comprising NCR’s 17 mayors met with the MMDA, DILG, and the Land Transportation Office (LTO). This was over the request of DILG Secretary Benhur Abalos to let the LTO have sole responsibility for the meantime in confiscating licenses.
The NCR's 17 mayors have all granted the DILG's request to suspend license confiscation for traffic violations [Image: MMDA FB page]
Metro Manila mayors agreed to the moratorium and have passed their respective ordinances to this effect. This is in line with the LTO’s efforts to finalize interconnectivity with the MMDA and local government units for tagging and recording traffic violations.
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