AN act of brazen defiance unfolded recently on one of Dagupan’s streets when an affluent city resident displayed arrogance and blatant disrespect for law and order.

The incident involved the owner of a white SUV who, after being issued a traffic citation ticket by the Public Order and Safety Office (POSO) for shamelessly converting a pedestrian sidewalk into a private parking spot, proceeded to tear the citation to shreds before throwing it to the ground.

A sidewalk is not, and never will be, an extension of one’s garage or a convenient space for a luxury vehicle. It is a public passageway—essential for the safety and movement of pedestrians who traverse our streets daily.

By parking there, the driver stole public space. By tearing up the ticket, he mocked the rule of law and dared the authorities to act. This was not merely a traffic violation; it was an affront to civic order and public accountability.

When a citizen feels entitled enough to destroy an official government document, it reflects a deeper crisis in governance and respect for authority. The driver’s conduct was not only disrespectful to POSO enforcers but also to the very system that upholds public discipline.

POSO Chief Arvin Decano must act decisively. This matter should be elevated to the Land Transportation Office (LTO), which must issue a show-cause order to the vehicle’s registered owner. The individual should be compelled to explain, under penalty of law, his defiant behavior toward a legitimate citation.

Mayor Belen Fernandez must also respond firmly. While her appeal for the public not to imitate such behavior is commendable, words alone are insufficient. The city government should authorize the filing of a formal complaint, whether for disrespect to a person in authority or for the willful destruction of government property. A strong legal precedent must be set.

Dagupan cannot allow such arrogant impunity to go unpunished. To ignore it would embolden others to disregard lawful authority and weaken future enforcement of traffic rules.

Mayor Fernandez, this is the moment to send a clear message: the law is not optional, and disrespect toward enforcers will not go unanswered.

Let this errant driver face the consequences he deserves. In doing so, Dagupan will reaffirm that public spaces—and the rule of law—must always be respected. #