After much discussion, the mayors of Metro Manila have finally agreed in principle to adopt the Metro Manila Council's (MMC) plan to introduce a standardized traffic citation system which is planned to be implemented next year.

San Juan Mayor Francis Zamora, also the MMC president, announced this last Dec. 13.

The project aims for a unified ticketing system with the same amount charged for penalties for several common traffic violations in all Metro Manila LGUs. The MMDA and the Land Transportation Office (LTO) will be immediately tagged in the digital records to make sure drivers cannot renew their licenses or declare them lost just to evade payment.

The single ticketing system was first proposed by Zamora last Nov. 26, during the joint session of the MMC and the Regional Development Council (RDC) which he also co-chairs.

Under the proposed system, motorists will not have to surrender their driver's license to traffic enforcers and go back to the LGU to pay the fines. Instead, the fines can be settled at payment centers all over the country. The non-confiscation of driver's licenses, however, would need ordinances from the local government units, it was pointed out by the mayors.

In an MMC meeting held Dec. 10, Land Transportation Office (LTO) chief Art Tugade said the LTO has already laid down the technical requirements for the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and LGUs to issue traffic violation tickets to tag and record traffic violations.

“Once the single ticketing system is finalized, the LTO will strictly implement its demerit point system to be able to properly monitor driver’s license records. License should only be issued to deserving and qualified drivers,” Tugade said.

Secretary Benhur Abalos of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) praised the new policy for it is expected to decongest vehicular traffic in the National Capital Region, and benefit motorists because it would do away with various inconveniences of settling fines.

While waiting for local ordinances that would implement the new policy, Abalos said “everything will be interconnected with the LTO in the meanwhile. While this is being done, the names of all who are apprehended will be listed and given to the LTO.” Mayor Zamora said the biggest convenience with the new system is that erring drivers won’t need to come back to the local government where the violation occurred to pay the fine. He, however, warned that despite the prohibition of the confiscation of licenses, violators cannot refuse to pay the fine.

Non-payment of traffic fines will only increase the amount to be settled at a future date due to penalties.

Zamora said “if you think you don’t have to pay because you’re not renewing your license any time soon, you would need to pay a big amount by the time you need to renew your license in the future.”

It is well to note that our officials, both from the national agencies and the local mayors, are judiciously finding ways to improve traffic management with the end in view of decongesting the metropolis and hastening the flow of vehicles.