Tuesday, June 06, 2006
Traffic group cracks down on 'habal-habals'
By Barbara Carla R. Quiero
THE amended motorcycle ordinance or Ordinance 0189 has been finally implemented Monday after a month of suspension.
This after City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte ordered its implementation, Traffic Management Center (TMC) chief Celso Gempesaw said.
Duterte earlier said the ordinance has to be reviewed because of it affects on the livelihood of some Dabawenyos.
Ordinance 0189, which is an amendment of Ordinance 737, requires drivers and riders to wear crash helmets and limits the number of backriders to just one.
It also prohibits the use of a single motorcycle as public conveyance or habal-habal.
"I would call on all motorcycle drivers to follow the ordinance because starting today (Monday), the ordinance will be strongly implemented," Gempesaw said in an interview Monday.
Aside from banning motorcycles to be used as public conveyances and limiting passengers to just one, the ordinance also prohibits motorcycle drivers from carrying children younger than eight years old as passengers.
"You are not banned from using your motorcycles, but if you do intend to have a rider, then make the rider use a helmet as well," he said. "If you want to take your child for a ride, then bring proof that he is really eight years old or older."
Gempesaw said first offenders will be fined P1,000, second time offenders P2,000 and third time offenders P3,000.
Until the fines are not paid, the motorcycles of the erring drivers will be impounded at the TMC, he said.
He added that unregistered motorcycle units will never be retrieved by the owner.
"Even if the motorcycle is not used for habal-habal purposes or the driver has not violated the ordinance, they can never get their motorcycle back. Once unregistered motorcycles are impounded the mayor doesn't want these released ever," Gempesaw added.
There are more or less 14,000 habal-habal operators in Davao City.
For Bisaya stories from Davao. Click here. (June 6, 2006 issue)
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