CITOM warns public vs buying vehicles with pending violations

CEBU, Philippines - Those who want to buy second-hand passenger jeepneys and taxis in Cebu City are advised by the City Traffic Operations Management (CITOM) to verify first their records from the Traffic Violations Bureau (TVB).

CITOM Chairman Sylvan “Jack” Jakosalem said some of the PUJs and taxis that are operating in Metro Cebu have huge pending traffic violations with the TVB so it should be necessary for the buyers to first check their records, otherwise, the new owners will have to shoulder them.

Jakosalem said there are some vehicles that are impounded by the CITOM for traffic violations, and owners of these have claimed that they could no longer afford to claim their vehicles because of the large amount of traffic fines that they have to pay.

According to Jakosalem, the would-be buyers should ask the seller to present a CITOM clearance to show that they have no pending fines.

“Many that are being impounded by CITOM now have huge pending violations, some up to P400,000. The usual reason is that they did not know of the pending fines,” he said.

“Remember that if your vehicle is clamped, you have to pay all pending fines before it is released. That’s why this is important now,” he added.

The CITOM chair earlier disclosed of the policy of Mayor Michael Rama for the City not to give much discounts on traffic fines.

The records of the CITOM’s Traffic Violations Bureau showed that many vehicle owners are just ignoring their traffic fine obligations so their fines have accumulated, with some up to P100,000 or P400,000. (THE FREEMAN)