Stiff fines await MMDA bus scheme violators

Bus drivers should think twice before violating the implementing rules and guidelines of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority’s Organized Bus Route (OBR) scheme because of the stiff fines and penalties that await them.

Even private motorists should be warned since the latest MMDA scheme will work together and strengthen the "yellow lane" policy strictly being implemented on EDSA.

The minimum fine for violating OBR rules is P500 and comes with other penalties like driver’s license suspension and the banning of the subject bus from the EDSA route for a month.

OBR rules, as explained through a memorandum circular dated and approved in October 2003, set harsher penalties for repeat violators.

"Three violations of the OBR rule within a period of one month shall cause the automatic suspension of the driver’s license for a month," the memorandum stated. "Suspended driver’s licenses shall be under the custody of the MMDA and shall not be released until fines and charges have been paid."

OBR rule violations include the loss of queue numbers, which would mean a month’s suspension of the driver’s license and a month’s suspension of the unit as well as payment of P300 for the reproduction of the queue card lost.

Overtaking and breaking the queue would mean a payment of a P1,000 fine on first offense and suspension of the driver’s license on the second.

Loading and unloading violations also fall under the OBR rules which would mean different fines and penalties depending on the lane occupied.

The fines range from P1,000 to P5,000, plus the possible impounding of the vehicle after the first offense.

Other OBR rule violations include stopping for more than 30 seconds.

Provincial buses caught loading and unloading on EDSA will also be in violation of the OBR system and will be fined P1,000.

The MMDA is set to fully implement the OBR next week after another meeting with representatives of bus operators tomorrow to thresh out the mechanics of the scheme.