MMDA to raise fines on EDSA Bus Lane violations

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority shall soon raise the penalties on violating the Epifanio delos Santos Avenue (EDSA) Bus Lane regulation.

MMDA Acting Chairman Atty. Romando Artes said that the agency will implement the jacked-up fines as the agency sees that numerous private vehicles, motorcycle riders, and other motor vehicles users are disregarding it.

To note, the EDSA Bus Lane is only public utility buses, ambulances, and marked government vehicles responding to emergencies.

“To serve as a deterrent, the MMDA, through the Metro Manila Council (MMC), decided to increase the prescribed fines and impose corresponding suspension of driver’s license depending on the frequency of offense,” Artes explained.

Currently, the prescribed fine for violating the exclusive bus lane regulation is at P1,000 for each offense.

However, under MMDA Regulation No. 23-002, the agency will increase the penalty for violating the EDSA carousel lane regulation for both public and private vehicles:

• First Offense: P5,000
• Second Offense: P10,000 plus one month suspension of driver’s license, and required to undergo a road safety seminar
• Third Offense: P20,000 plus one year suspension of driver’s license
• Fourth Offense: P30,000 plus recommendation to Land Transportation Office for revocation of driver’s license

Relatedly, Artes noted that soon-to-be-imposed fines are anti-poor or a money-making scheme.

“Based on our data and observation, there are those who are willing to pay the P1,000 fines and violate the exclusivity of the bus lane because they can afford it… kalimitan kotse ng mayayaman (usually the vehicles of the rich people),” he said.

To ensure that the public is aware of the newly-created scheme, Artes will first conduct information campaigns prior to its full implementation.

However, he said that while Council already approved the implementation, the date of the no-window hour coding scheme has yet to be determined.

“We will assess first the situation of Metro Manila roads from November 6-12, after the return of vacationers from the provinces for the Undas break. We expect 15-20 percent additional vehicle volume as the holiday nears, that’s the time we will decide whether or not to implement the 7 a.m.- 7 p.m. number coding scheme in Metro Manila.”

The current number coding hours, (7 a.m.-10 a.m. and 5 p.m.-8 p.m. will still be observed, Artes stated.

Photos from Metropolitan Manila Development Authority

Also read:

MMDA junks proposal to remove EDSA Bus Carousel

LTO to deploy additional personnel to man EDSA bus lane

MMDA warns motorists, riders: stay out of EDSA Carousel bus lane