Motorists are warned of being arrested if they play Pokemon Go while they are driving. (CDN PHOTO/TONEE DESPOJO)
TO avoid accidents, public utility vehicle drivers are warned not to play Pokemon Go while they are driving.
Regional Director Ahmed Cuizon of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board in Central Visayas (LTFRB-7) posted the warning on his Twitter page yesterday.
“All PUV drivers are reminded that playing #PokemonGo while driving is prohibited. Please report violators to us so we can catch them all,” Cuizon said in his post.
Cuizon said that the drivers could be penalized through the Anti-Distracted Driving Act or Republic Act No. 10913.
“No formal memo yet but our counterparts in national office have relayed it to us online. But even without a memo, the law is clear that drivers must not engage in distracting activities like playing with their cellphones while driving,” Cuizon told Cebu Daily News.
Violators will be meted a penalty of P5,000 for the first offense; P10,000 for the second such offense; and P15,000 for the third offense with suspension of driver’s license.
“The LTFRB has always stood for road safety and this one falls right down that alley. ‘Pokemoning’ while driving is obviously dangerous; ergo, it must be avoided at all costs,” Cuizon said.
Pokemon Go, a reality game mobile application developed by Niantics, was made available in the Philippines since Saturday.
The Philippines was among the 15 Asia and Oceana countries where the location-based reality game was rolled out.