MOTORISTS who continue to violate the exclusive bus lane on Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA) will face stiffer penalties starting November 13, according to the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA).
MMDA Chairman Romando Artes said the stiffer fines —which in some cases may be up to P30,000 — have been approved by the Metro Manila Council (MMC). The MMC, whose members are the 17 Metro mayors, is the policy-making body of the MMDA.
Under MMDA Regulation 23-002, erring motorists will be meted a P5,000 fine for the first offense, P10,000 for the second offense plus one month suspension of the driver’s license and a road safety seminar, while a fine of P20,000 and a one-year suspension of driver’s license will be imposed on motorists erring for the third time.
For the fourth offense, the agency said a P30,000 fine would be imposed while a recommendation would also be made to the Land Transportation Office (LTO) to revoke the driver’s license of the erring motorist.
Artes earlier pointed out that many private vehicles, motorcycle riders, and other motor vehicles continually use the exclusive bus lane despite constant warnings and reminders from the agency.
The bus carousel lane is for the exclusive use of public utility buses, ambulances, and marked government vehicles responding to emergencies.
“To serve as a deterrent, the MMDA, through the Metro Manila Council, decided to increase the prescribed fines and impose a corresponding suspension of driver’s license depending on the frequency of the offense,” Artes said.
Currently, the prescribed fine for the violation of the exclusive bus lane regulation is P1,000 for each offense.
The MMDA chief said the agency will use the time before the imposition of the increased fines to conduct information campaigns to raise public awareness on the new fines.
