(Eagle News) — Starting today, April 15, the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) will implement its controversial “No Contact Apprehension policy”.
Under this policy, traffic violators will be receiving their tickets and notices when and where they committed violations with an attached screengrab of the CCTV footage.
MMDA chairman Emerson Carlos said this new system will allow them to monitor and apprehend traffic violators just by using footages from the MMDA’s CCTV cameras.
The area of coverage will only be in Metro Manila where there are CCTV cameras installed.
Notices fo violations “shall be sent thru personal service by MMDA Personnel, registered mail or courier services through government or private service providers,” according to the MMDA.
“Traffic violators who refuse to receive or accept the notice issued to them without any valid reason shall be deemed to have received it by leaving a copy and submission of an affidavit of service or report attesting the refusal of the violator to acknowledge receipt of the Notice,” the MMDA said.
It said the “first notice shall require the owner of the vehicle to identify its driver at the time and place indicated in the notice and his/her address.”
“It is the responsibility of the current owner to have the vehicle registered under his/her name. If a previous owner receives the Notice, he or she may file a protest at the MMDA Traffic Adjudication Division and show a notarized Deed of Sale as evidence, as well the name and address of the current owner,” MMDA’s rules on its new traffic policy stated.
“Traffic violators who refuse to receive or accept the notice issued to them without any valid reason shall be deemed to have received it by leaving a copy and submission of an affidavit of service or report attesting the refusal of the violator to acknowledge receipt of the Notice,” it said.
MMDA said the “payment of fines and penalties shall be made within seven days upon receipt of the first notice to any authorized accredited payment centers unless a protest is filed before the MMDA TAD.”
“..in which case, the fines as finally adjudicated shall be paid at the Collection Division of the MMDA Central Office.” it clarified.
“The First Notice contains a statement that the traffic violator shall have the right to file a protest before the MMDA-Traffic Adjudication Division or TAD within seven days from receipt of the Notice, and that failure to do so within the prescribed period shall be seen as a waiver of such right to contest the violation or present evidence as a defense.
Within 15 days from receipt of an adverse TAD resolution, the driver may file a Motion for Reconsideration. Within thirty (30) days from receipt of the denial of the Motion for Reconsideration, the driver may file an appeal at the Office of the Chairman where the Decision shall be final and executory,” MMDA said in its facebook page which already received lots of questioned from concerned motorists.
It said that “if no protest is filed within the 7-day prescriptive period and the fines remain unpaid, a Final Notice to settle the violation shall be issued.”
And as to the question if a violator will refuse to pay, the MMDA said the vehicle’s license plate number will be included in the “Alarm list” and be reported to the LTO “with a request that its registration not be renewed until the penalties or fines are fully settled.”
MMDA said the rules apply to both public and private vehicles.