Last week, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) announced that it is set to increase the fines for EDSA Busway violators. Now, the agency has a start date for the new guidelines: November 13.
Beginning next Monday, unauthorized motorists who use the EDSA Carousel lanes will be apprehended and charged with much, much heftier fines. In case you missed it, here’s the breakdown again for you:
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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The increased fines apply to both private and public utility vehicles. The MMDA says the new fines are for the safety of motorists as well as the seamless travel of city buses plying the bus lanes.
Unfortunately, there were reports of motorists speeding off after getting flagged down on the busway. MMDA acting chairman Atty. Don Artes said these people will be reported to the Land Transportation Office and the penalties will be imposed on the vehicle owners. So, if you often lend out your car to people, make sure you’re lending it out to the right people.
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.
What say you, readers? Do you think the stiffer fines will help keep erring motorists out of the EDSA Busway?
UPDATE, 16 November 2023, 12:00pm: This story has been updated to include the list of vehicles that are authorized to use the EDSA Busway.
