Penalties increased for Baguio traffic violations

By Dexter A. See 

BAGUIO CITY – The city council approved on third and final reading a proposed ordinance that will increase penalties for violations of traffic rules and regulations pursuant to the provisions of Ordinance No. 7, series of 1984 or the city’s comprehensive traffic and transportation code.

Under the approved ordinance, a citation for violation of illegal parking or obstruction also negates violation of either non-observance of traffic control item, signs and signals.

The ordinance stated that driving under the influence of liquor or drugs have separate penalties and when on the occasion, physical injury or damage to property occurs while illegal overtaking was also added as part of the violations.

Violations and penalties include installation, display, interference or alteration of any traffic control sign or item without proper authority – from P300 to P1,500; erection, display or maintenance of anything which purports to be an imitation of any traffic control sign or item – from P100 to P1,500; unnecessary display of dazzling lights – from P50 to P300; exceeding speed limit now penalized under Section 22 of Ordinance No. 18, series of 2019 or the speed limit ordinance – from P300to P500 for the first offense, P2,000 for the second offense and P2,500 for the third and succeeding offenses  plus concurrent penalty; obstruction to traffic provided that a person cited for obstruction shall not be cited for illegal parking and non-observance of traffic control item, sign and signal – from P50 to P500; driving too closely with another vehicle in a non-built up area or tailgating – from P100 to P200; failure to signal movement – from P100 to P300.

Other penalties: vehicle with inadequate lights or reflections – P150 to P300; driving under the influence of liquor – P2,000; driving under the influence of liquor causing injury or damage to property – P5,000; driving under the influence of prohibited drugs – P5,000; riding a motorcycle without a protective helmet from P250 to P500 for the first offense, from P500 to P1,000 for the second offense and from P1,000 to P1,500 for the third and succeeding offenses; leaving an unserviceable, dilapidated or junk vehicle in any of the streets, roads or thoroughfares – from P500 to P5,000; deviation from the designated routes by drivers of jeepneys and buses – P1,000; digging, repairs, construction without property authority – from P1,000 to P5,000; driving without license – from P750 to P1,000; driving with expired license – from P300 to P700; failure to obey police direction – from P100 to P300; crossing a roadway not at a marked crossing – from P100 to P200 for the first offense, from P200 to P500 for the second offense and P300 to P1,000 for the third and succeeding offenses.

Other penalties:  stalled vehicle – from P200 to P500 aside from the fines, penalties and charges provided under Section 8 of Ordinance No. 05, series of 2017 commonly known as the truck ban ordinance; leaving the scene of accident without justifiable causes – from P300 to P5,000; reckless driving – from P500 to P1,000; failure to give right of way – from P100 to P300; leaving a vehicle in a no waiting area – from P150 to P500; non-observance of traffic control item, sign or signals – from P150 to P300; illegal parking provided that a person cited for the same shall not be cited for obstruction and non-observance of traffic control item, sign or signal – from P150 to P500; failure or refusal to transport or unload passengers at their destinations along designated routes – from P500 to P1,000 for the first offense and P1,000 to P2,000 for the second and succeeding offenses; placing reserved signs on public parking or any act of reserving or depriving the public of its use, except reserved parking mandated by law or ordinance – from P300 to P1,000 for the first offense, from P500 to P2,000 for the second offense and from P1,000 to P5,000 and revocation of business permit for the third and succeeding offenses and illegal overtaking – P500.