IF the collection of fines and penalties from traffic violations is any indication, motorists should be warned that traffic rules in Dagupan City are strictly enforced by the Public Order and Safety Office (POSO).

The city government has been collecting an average of P1 million a month in penalties for various violations of local traffic ordinances.

According to POSO chief Carlito Ocampo, records already show that P6 071,922.50, a record collection, have been collected over a six-month period, June–November, for citations issued by POSO traffic enforcers to motorists for violations including failure of motorcycle riders to wear crash helmets.

In a radio interview over Aksyon Radio, Ocampo said motorists cited for traffic obstruction pay P200 while motorcycle riders caught not wearing crash helmets are fined the maximum penalty of P1,500.

Ocampo explained that while POSO traffic enforcers have no authority to confiscate licenses of erring drivers, they issue citation tickets instead.

But he warned motorists who are inclined to ignore the citation tickets because their failure to pay the fines will result in filing of cases against erring motorists and motorcycle riders.

If charged, he said, the errant motorist will receive a a subpoena from the court and if they fail to appear before the court, an arrest warrant will be issued against them.

Ocampo said an arrest warrant is far more serious than having a license confiscated. The case will automatically form part of his record in the files of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and will weigh on him when he gets his NBI clearance.

Ocampo said he keeps reminding transport groups to warn their members about grave consequences from ignoring citation tickets even as leaders of transport groups indicated their preference for the confiscation of driving licenses to compel erring drivers to pay the penalties and avoid being served subpoenas or warrants of arrest. (Leonardo Micua)

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