BAGUIO CITY – A total of 49,500 traffic violators, mostly visitors here, were apprehended by combined police officers and traffic enforcers from January 1 to August 16, 2022, or 209 violators per day.
Lt. Col. Roldan Cabatan, chief of the Traffic Enforcement Unit of the Baguio City Police Office, said the number reflects the lack of discipline on the part of the motorists and visitors in the famous mountain hideaway.
About P21.6 million in fines were collected from the violators during the period, or about P436 per violator. The collections were added to the city’s coffers.
Cabatan said the revenues derived from the fines the traffic violators might reach P35 million by the end of the year if the trend continues in the coming months.
However, Cabatan pointed out that law enforcers and traffic enforcers are not happy apprehending traffic violators because of the delays experienced by motorists in trying to settle their fines and redeem their confiscated license plate numbers from the BCPO.
He advised motorists to simply observe the prevailing traffic rules and regulations and the installed signages along the roads in the city to avoid being apprehended.
Cabatan said the city government and the local police force will continue to work on the implementation of appropriate traffic schemes to reduce the congestion.
Traffic in the Summer Capital has been a major concern, especially during weekends where there is an influx of visitors.
He assured the residents and visitors alike that traffic enforcers will always do their best to address the prevailing congestion along major city roads, and he is asking the motorists for cooperation.