Don’t ignore traffic enforcers, or else

Motorists who ignore traffic enforcers flagging them down for traffic violations will be considered fugitives under the law, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said yesterday.

"This involves all the motorists who run away (and) disregard signals of the enforcers. In others words those who would not submit to the apprehensions. They will be considered as fugitives," MMDA chairman Bayani Fernando said.

Motorists have been known to ignore MMDA traffic enforcers or "blue boys" because they are not armed with guns like members of the Philippine National Police Traffic Enforcement Group (TEG).

MMDA’s legal eagles determined that the practice of motorists simply ignoring traffic enforcers is actually "absconding," a criminal offense punishable under the law.

Motorists who abscond face arrest and the impounding of their vehicles.

Under the new MMDA directive, traffic enforcers report all relevant information on the erring motorist to the MMDA Metrobase, which in turn transmits it to intercept points set up all over the metropolis.

Fernando noted that the intercept points have been set up at strategic areas in Metro Manila in order to ensure that no "fugitives" manage to get away.

The intercept points are manned by security forces composed of traffic enforcers and TEG members.

"The members of the security forces will be armed with high-powered firearms so the drivers will think twice about (trying to escape)," Fernando said. – Marvin Sy