Every time we write a story about EDSA Busway violators, there’s always the nagging thought that the penalties for driving illegally in the bus lane should be higher—because P1,000 per apprehension won’t be enough to deter repeat offenders with deep pockets, anyway.
Well, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), via MMDA Regulation No. 23-002, has now increased the fines for EDSA Bus Carousel violators, whether they’re in public or private vehicles. Check them out below:
Increased fines for EDSA Busway violators
- First offense – P5,000
- Second offense – P10,000, plus one-month suspension of driver’s license and mandatory road safety seminar
- Third offense – P20,000, plus one-year suspension of driver’s license
- Fourth offense – P30,000, plus possible revocation of driver’s license
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Only public utility buses, emergency vehicles like ambulances, and vehicles involved in the construction of the EDSA Busway. In a press conference on November 16, Artes said that clearly marked government vehicles will not be allowed on the EDSA Busway anymore beginning November 20.
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has also approved Artes’ recommendation to allow convoys of the President, the Vice President, the Senate president, the House speaker, and the Supreme Court chief justice to use the bus lane.
“Based on our data and observation, there are those who are willing to pay the P1,000 fines and violated the exclusivity of the bus lane because they can afford it...kalimitan kotse ng mayayaman,” said MMDA acting chairman Romando Artes, adding that the new fines are neither anti-poor nor a money-making scheme.
He also said that an information drive will be conducted by the MMDA before the higher fines are rolled out. We’ll let you know once an implementation date has been set, but in the meantime, do you think these new penalties will serve to discourage violators? Let us know in the comments.
UPDATE, 16 November 2023, 12:00pm: This story has been updated to reflect the removal of clearly marked government vehicles from the list of vehicles that are authorized to use the EDSA Busway, and to include the list of government officials whose convoys will be allowed in the bus lane.
