(Eagle News)– Authorities on Thursday, July 6, started implementing nationwide the Anti-Distracted Driving Act (ADDA) with new implementing rules and regulations (IRR), and have caught 33 violators so far.
Under the improved IRR, drivers of all types of vehicles, whether private or public, who are caught fiddling with their cell phones and other entertainment devices while driving will be fined.
Drivers are only exempted from the law if they need to use their phones because of an emergency.
In such cases, the drivers have the burden to prove that the situation they are in indeed requires immediate attention.
Drivers may receive calls while driving but only if they use a handset, earphones or speakers.
Gadgets are also allowed on the dashboard, provided they do not exceed the four-inch height limit.
According to the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, 33 individuals have been caught violating the law so far.
The MMDA is tasked to monitor drivers through high-definition cameras from the agency headquarters.
Once the MMDA personnel see someone violating the law, they take note of the plate number of the driver’s vehicle and coordinate with the Land Transportation Office to determine under whom the same was registered.
Once the vehicle’s registered owner is determined by LTO records, the MMDA personnel send out a notice of the violation to the registered owner’s address.
The MMDA said the violator has the option of paying the fine–P5,000 for the first offense, P10,000 for the second offense, and P15,000 for the third offense—or of appealing his or her case.
The license of someone who violates the law for the third time is also confiscated.
According to authorities, this system is apart from the traditional system of traffic enforcers deployed on roads personally issuing tickets to violators.
The ADDA was first implemented nationwide last May 18 but was suspended five days later after it caused confusion.
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) released the revised IRR of ADDA last June 21.
The law became effective 15 days later.
