Local government units are now ordered to stop issuing their own traffic violation tickets and confiscating driver’s licenses of violators following a Supreme Court decision that mandates the use of the single ticketing system of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA).
The decision was dated July 11, 2023, but was released only this week.
Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa, the Associate Justice who penned the decision, cites the MMDA’s Joint Metro Traffic Circular 12-01 from 2012. It reads: “The Land Transportation Office (LTO) issues Temporary Operator’s Permit (TOP), [MMDA] issues Traffic Violation Receipt (TVR), and LGUs issue their respective Ordinance Violation Receipt (OVR) for traffic violations.
OTHER STORIES YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED:
NAIAX Tramo access ramp now open
“Moreover, the TOP, TVR, and OVRs are being issued with varying fines and penalties for the same traffic violation, and under different procedure in apprehension, payment of fine, and redemption of license/plate. This multiple-ticketing and uncoordinated implementation of traffic laws result [in] confusion of the driving public and loss of money and productive hours, and if left unattended may create chaos to the detriment of the public in general.”
The decision maintains that “the MMDA has exclusive authority to enforce traffic laws, rules, and regulations,” but provides that traffic enforcers of LGUs “may participate in such functions” when deputized by the MMDA—and even then, they are required to use the single ticketing system.
It also states that the autonomy of LGUs is not undermined by the ruling, given that the 16 mayors of the capital region hold membership in the Metro Manila Council (MMC), the governing and policy-making body of the MMDA.
“All told, the Court thus declares as invalid the common provision in [local] traffic codes or ordinances of the LGUs in Metro Manila empowering each of them to issue OVRs to erring drivers and motorists. The other provisions of traffic codes or ordinances remain valid and unaffected by this Decision.”
