PATROL officers of the Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway (CCLEX) can now flag down and issue the temporary operator’s permit (TOP) to erring motorists who violate traffic rules while traversing the expressway.
The Land Transportation Office in Central Visayas (LTO 7) formally turned over the TOPs to 16 deputized patrol crew members of CCLEX Thursday, Sept. 1, 2022.
Under LTO Memorandum Circular 515-2004, the TOP is issued to drivers at the site and time of the driver’s apprehension for a violation. It serves as the driver’s temporary license for three days while the driver has yet to pay the fine for his violation and get his license back from the LTO.
Mareon Therese Miole, operations manager of Cebu Cordova Link Expressway Corp. (CCLEC), said their personnel underwent training about road safety and traffic rules and regulations.
“We are partnering with them (LTO) in our advocacy, which is really on road safety. This is the start of our partnership and future coordination with LTO 7,” said Miole.
The patrol crew started their training in May 2022 during which they underwent practical and written examinations before being deputized by the LTO, she added.
Miole said the patrol crew will man the 8.9-kilometer expressway 24/7.
Among the most common violations of motorists is the non-wearing of seat belts and the wearing of inappropriate footwear by motorcycle drivers.
Asked about motorists who exit their vehicles to pose for pictures, Miole said the management is working on how to deal with this since the bridge is Cebu’s newest iconic structure.
CCLEX is a toll expressway that links mainland Cebu in Cebu City to Mactan Island through Cordova town.
CCLEC president Allan Alfon recently announced that they will install vista points to provide motorists better and safer vantage points where they can take pictures.