Makati council to ban sale of sirens, blinkers

The Makati City Council is seriously considering the passage of an ordinance drafted by 16 of its members prohibiting the sale of car sirens, horns, blinkers and other similar vehicle accessories to unauthorized individuals in the city.

"While many of these abusive drivers have been apprehended, we continue to be confronted with the problem of unrestrained sale and use of these devices in the city of Makati," the councilors said in proposed Ordinance No. 2000-079.

The councilors described the use of these devices by persons other than authorized government officials as a public nuisance. They said most individuals use these devices to show off, or cut through traffic even if they do not have any official business to attend to.

"These individuals resort to blinkers and sirens to avoid the inconveniences ordinary people have to content with like traffic. But most of them are not even authorized to use these devices, since they are private individuals or low-ranking government employees," they said.

Aside from sirens, horns and blinkers, the sale of similar gadgets that produce exceptionally loud or startling sounds including "dome lights" and other similar signaling or flashing devices to unauthorized individuals will be prohibited.

The councilors referred to Presidential Decree 96 and the Land Transportation Office (LTO) Administrative Order No. 1 series of 1973 in saying that such "gadgets or devices may be sold and attached to and used only on motor vehicles designated for official use by the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Metro Manila Development Authority, Philippine National Police, National Bureau of Investigation, hospitals, ambulances, towing trucks/wreckers, and public utility company service/repair trucks."

Once approved, the ordinance shall impose stiff penalties on the seller of the above devices as follows: P3,000 for the first offense; P4,000 for the second; and a fine of P5,000 and imprisonment of not less than six months for the third.

Those who authored Ordinance No. 2000-079 were Councilors Ana Luz Cristal-Tenorio, Ferdinand Eusebio, Meynardo Gonzales, Oscar Ibay, Divina Jacome, Ric Javier, Romeo Medine, Salvador Pangilinan, Nelson Pasia, Astulfo Pimentel, Rico Puno, Liberato Siaron, Johnny Wilson, Jejomar Erwin Binay Jr. and Rodolfo Sese.