Parking line violator’s fine pushed

BAGUIO City Councilor Lilia Fariñas wants to penalize vehicle owners for non-observance of parking lines.

Farinas said: “There are still so many vehicle owners and drives who persistently do not observe the practice of parking exactly where the parking lines indicate to be occupied, such that their vehicles either encroach another parking space leaving a very small space for another vehicle to park, or such that their vehicle is parked exactly between parking lines occupying two parking spaces, which were supposed to be meant for two cars.”

The lawmaker said parking lines that run perpendicular across roads and streets have been installed for the sole purpose of guiding vehicle owners and drivers to indicate the parking space onto which their respective vehicles should occupy.

Farinas added: “Baguio City has very limited parking spaces, that the number of cars greatly outnumber the parking spaces allotted, so much so that it is mandatory for us to regulate our parking spaces by the strict compliance of parking observance and courtesy; our worsening traffic situation should be coupled with the enforcement of discipline for drivers to observe not only while driving and traversing streets, but also in parking.”

The proposed law mandates the apprehension of drivers who do not observe the parking lines meant to indicate where their respective vehicles should occupy as a parking space, and penalize vehicle owners whose cars are already parked but have gone beyond the parking lines.

The Farinas law details procedure for enforcement and apprehension of erring drivers and vehicle owners, but shall not be limited to the following:

When during parking, a traffic enforcer observes that the driver has not aligned his/her vehicle according to the parking lines, the traffic enforcer shall make the driver aware of the presence of parking lines to be observed, and thereby, guide the driver accordingly. No penalties shall apply;

When after parking, the driver has alighted his/her vehicle, yet, upon apprehension or warning by a traffic enforcer, he/she deliberately leaves the vehicle, or refuses to correct his/her non-observance of parking lines, the traffic enforcer may either confiscate his/her driver’s license, or take-off their license plates, whichever is practicable, However, in both situations, the traffic enforcer shall issue the corresponding traffic violation ticket for obstruction therefor;

When the vehicle owner or driver is nowhere in sight, and the vehicle is clearly parked over or beyond the parking lines, the traffic enforcer may take away the vehicle’s license plates, and cite on the traffic violation ticket the non-observance of parking lines, and therefore, a violation for obstruction.

To better enlighten erring vehicle owners or drivers, or violators who may be unaware of the ordinance, A photograph may be taken showing the vehicle with their corresponding license plates over and beyond parking lines;

In order for vehicle owners or drivers to redeem their license plates and/or their driver’s licenses respectively, they shall have to pay the corresponding penalty and show the receipt at the proper Baguio Police Sub-Station;

The Baguio City Police Office – Traffic Management Unit will take the lead in the enforcement of the law if approved while existing penalties on Obstruction will apply.

The measure was passed on its first reading during the regular session on Monday, July 8.