MMDA starts impounding buses

The Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has begun the impounding of bus units whose drivers have not been settling their traffic violation citations of Metro Traffic Ticket (MTT) rules. The driver’s licenses of those caught with overdue MTTs are also being confiscated and the drivers are stripped of their right to drive.

MMDA executive director Angelito Vergel de Dios said the agency had been warning bus operators and drivers of the consequences of not paying fines and penalties within the prescribed period. Some had allegedly been intentionally ignoring the MTT because they insist that the system has been tagged illegal by a Makati City court.

‘Sa mga bus operators, huwag po kayong magugulat kung bigla na lang ma-impound yung inyong mga bus units," Vergel de Dios said. He assured bus owners that the MMDA is actually securing their units since their drivers are no longer authorized to drive them.

"Medyo abala din po ito sa inyo at ganun din sa amin," he said announcing the impounded bus units can be recovered an hour after a bus company is notified.

Vergel de Dios said there are drivers who had been cited several times for a traffic violation but has not settled a single one upon checking with MMDA Metrobase records. According to him, the licenses of these drivers are suspended for a period of three months because of their obviously intentional failure to obey the law and the MTTs rules and regulations.

Chairman Bayani Fernando had long been warning drivers against ignoring their MTT traffic violation citations because they will suffer more. He said it is now time to impose what should be imposed against those who refuse to pay their fines thinking that they can get away with it.

Fernando appealed to drivers to be responsible enough and not think only of themselves so as to violate and oppose laws that they believe will be inconvenient for them.

Fourteen million ang tao sa Metro Manila. Drivers are not even 100 or 200 thousand. Hindi po kayo ang sentro ng mundo," he said during his agency’s weekly radio program ovedzBB. He advised drivers, especially those handling jeepneys, to work on improving their services instead of complaining and complaining and still complaining.

"Kung lalabagin ninyo lahat ang alituntunin eh hindi tayo aabante niyan," Fernando said also in reaction to reports that jeepney drivers plan to oppose the idea of establishing bicycle lanes in the metropolis.