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Monday, August 22, 2005
Community service eyed for violators
By Danilo V. Adorador III
Correspondent
TRAFFIC violators in Cagayan de Oro City may start doing community service for their offenses as the City Council is poised to pass next Monday stiffer penalties on road violations.
The proposed revision to the fines and other penalties for road offenses was off to a bad start last Monday when some councilors assailed the proposed fees.
Councilor Juan Sia protested saying the P1,500, P3,000 and P5,000 gradual fines for serious traffic offenses was exorbitant.
But the differences have been ironed out during a caucus Wednesday when the councilors adopted Councilor Jose Benjamin Benaldo's proposal, which will enable traffic offenders to choose between paying the corresponding fines or opt for a community service.
"This new ordinance is a compromise. This will give our poor drivers the chance to choose an alternative penalty which is equally deterrent to the imposed fines," Councilor Benaldo told Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro.
Under the amended schedule of fees and penalties, traffic offenses are categorized between light and serious offenses.
Fines on light offenses such as those classified under parking violations were raised to as much as 400 percent from the previous uniform fee of P100.
"Serious offenses will incur the gradual P1,500, P3,000 and P5,000 fines while light offenses will be imposed the minimum P500," Vice Mayor Michelle Tagarda-Spiers told this paper in an interview Sunday.
Under the community service penalty, Vice Mayor Tagarda-Spiers explained that violators will render public works equivalent to eight hours for every P500 fines.
Earlier, apprehensions developed among councilors that stricter penalties will become a breeding ground for mulcting by traffic enforcers.
But Tagarda Spiers said protection mechanisms against this type of abuse will be in place right after the passage of the amended traffic fees and regulations.
"Traffic violators who would like to question the legality of the offenses or the instances upon which they are being penalized can lodge a complaint to the Traffic Management Board (TBM)," she said.
"Traffic enforcers will seriously think twice before they commit any unjust citation."
The quasi-judicial traffic board will be headed by Attorney Ramon Tabor of the Roads and Traffic Authority (RTA), Tagarda-Spiers said, while its members will be coming from various city departments.
face="Verdana">(August 22, 2005 issue)
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