Fewer violations after hike in fines, says LTO exec

Piston members hold a rally in front of the Land Transportation regional office to protest the joint administrative order increasing the fines of traffic violations. (CDN PHOTO/ LITO TECSON)

About 100 drivers in Cebu under the group Piston held a rally in front of the Land Transportation Office (LTO) yesterday to join the nationwide activity against the order imposing higher fines on traffic violations.

Greg Perez, Cebu coordinator of the Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide (Piston), said they will not stop until authorities junk the Joint Administrative Order (JAO) 2014-01 which  imposes stiffer penalties.

But Joey Maloloy-on, head of the operations division of LTO-7, said there is a smaller number of recorded violations since the JAO took effect.

From 150, the number of apprehensions is down to 30 a day, he said, which means the drivers have been  disciplined by it.

Alita Pulga, assistant director of LTO-7, said they have yet to receive an order suspending the implementation of the policy.

“We cannot do anything, the regional offices throughout the country are just implementing agencies,” said Pulga.

She said drivers should put their objections in writing and go to court.

Perez said a petition was filed in court by Piston national. They are awaiting the Supreme Court decision on the matter. In the meantime, he said they will not stop having rallies.

He said he has been receiving complaints from drivers against police officers who are given authority to issue Temporary Operating Permits. This is often used as means for corruption by the law enforcers, he said.

But Pulga said drivers should give names and report these incidents./ with Pearl Anton, Xavier University Intern