How to Deal with MMDA Traffic Enforcers

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As I was cleaning up my email inbox, I found an almost 3-year old mail regarding MMDA.  I realized that why should I keep those tips to myself?  So here I am, sharing with you the details plus some more important information about the topic.  So how do you deal with Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) traffic enforcers?

Don’t you find it sad that in our country (Philippines) the police, the MMDA, government officials in uniform often abuse their powers?  This is noticeable especially in the streets when they enforce traffic rules and regulations.

The good news is there are guidelines that can help us with it.  We need to be informed so that we won’t be victimized by some abusive traffic enforcers.  This is applicable to MMDA but I guess we can use the information for Makati City police officers or any other city who doesn’t recognize MMDA as their traffic authority (they might have a different guideline altogether, so be warned!  There’s a reason why they don’t recognize MMDA).

Here the guidelines shared by Audee (through the Entrepreneurs yahoo mailing list) based on her conversation with MMDA personnel Antonio Pagulayan last 2007:

• MMDA officers are not allowed to group together in order to apprehend.  They are not even allowed to stand together in groups of 2 or more.  The only time they are allowed to work together is for special operations (probably when they apprehend groups of buses for smoke belching).
• Swerving IS NOT a traffic violation.  Moving one lane to the left or right is not swerving, no matter where on the road you do it. And it is even less of a violation when you do it with a signal. Swerving is defined as shifting 2 or more lanes very quickly. So you can argue your way out of this, and call the Metro Base for help.
• Using the yellow lane is a traffic violation and will get you a ticket.  However, buses are really not allowed to go out of the yellow lane, so if you see selective apprehension of private cars only, you may complain.
• MMDA has confirmed that your license MAY NOT BE CONFISCATED at a traffic apprehension.  The only time they can do so is if you are part of an accident, or it is your third violation and you have not settled your fines yet.  They are only allowed to give you a ticket, which you can contest.  He recommends actually receiving the ticket in some instances, so that you can report the officer who did it.
• Also, you are free to ask any of these officers for their “mission order”, which is written by their supervisor.  If they apprehend you for a violation that is not in their mission order for the day, you can report them and they will receive disciplinary action.

So guys & gals, if you experience such abuses, I suggest you call MMDA hotline: 136 and ask for assistance.  What will happen is that the MMDA will send inspectors to where you are arguing out of your apprehension with an MMDA enforcer.  Hopefully, they can prevent extortion.

Do click this link for the list of Traffic Violations and Fines/Penalties for your information.  Hope this helps.  Be informed and fight for your rights!