EDITORIAL - Out of line

Those are stiff fines approved by the Department of Transportation and Communications for out of line or colorum buses and other public utility vehicles. The amounts are P6,000 for motorcycles, P50,000 for jeepneys, P120,000 for sedans, P200,000 for vans and trucks, and a hefty P1 million for buses.

Anyone who has ever suffered from trip cutting and other inconveniences for which colorum mass transport vehicles are notorious will welcome the imposition of the fines. The amounts, especially for buses, may seem steep, but anyone who can afford to buy a bus and use it for mass transportation presumably can afford a fine of P1 million.

There are two potential problems in this order, which takes effect June 19. One is effective enforcement. Will traffic authorities do their job and rid the streets of colorum vehicles? The other problem, which is also connected to effective enforcement, is the potential for corruption.

With such amounts involved, transport operators can be tempted to settle the cases with the apprehending traffic police. And there is a high likelihood that whatever is paid as settlement will not end up in public coffers.

There have been several campaigns in recent years against cops and traffic aides who shake down motorists pulled over for traffic violations. Whether the violations are real or contrived, many motorists simply pay up to avoid the hassle of retrieving their driver’s license from city hall and having a blot on their driving record.

A fine of P1 million dramatically increases the stimulus for settling a colorum case with the apprehending authority. Before the new fines are imposed, measures must be in place to prevent extortionists from undermining  the campaign against colorum vehicles.