Motorista babayaran sa maling violation charges ng traffic enforcer – Sen. Tulfo

SAKALI maisabatas ang isang panukala sa Senado, babayaran ang sinumang motorista na hinuli sa maling kadahilanan na nagresulta ng pagsasayang ng oras, nawalang appointment at gumastos sa traffic violations.

Sa ilalim ng Senate Bill No. 1976, Fair Traffic Apprehension Act, papanagutin ang nanlolokong traffic enforcer at maiwasang maabuso ang kapangyarihan nito sa hinaharap.

“Motorists experience tedious processes in contesting traffic apprehensions made against them, especially when the driver is under a no work, no pay policy. The bill seeks to provide compensation for drivers of motor vehicles who are wrongly apprehended for traffic violations,” ayon sa explanatory note sa panukalang inihain ni Senador Raffy Tulfo.

Layunin ng panukala na itaguyod ang transparency at accountability sa traffic enforcement system para mabenepisyuhann ang motorista at gobyerno.

Sakop ng panukala ang operatiba ng Land Transportation Office, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board at local government units.

“Any driver of motor vehicle apprehended by any traffic enforcement personnel may contest the traffic apprehension before the traffic adjudication board of the traffic enforcement authority to which the traffic enforcer belongs within 60 days from the date of apprehension or discovery of the same,” ayon sa panukala.

Nakatakda rin sa panukala ang probisyon na nagsasabing: “The driver is entitled to seek legal assistance from the Public Attorney’s Office and Integrated Bar of the Philippines; seek guidance and other form of assistance from advocate groups such as the Road Safety Advocates of the Philippines and other non-governmental organizations duly registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission; take photo or video to record or document the traffic apprehension and use the photo or video as evidence before the traffic adjudication board; bring not more than five persons during the hearing, including the witnesses and lawyer; record on video or live stream the proceedings; and receive compensation.”

Ayon sa panukala, nasa panig ng nanghuling traffic enforcement personnel ang burden of proof na kanyang patutunayan sa isang traffic adjudicatiom board na maayos na tiniketan ang drayber.

“Compensation is three times the amount as may be computed,” ayon sa panukala.

“If employed, the compensation is equivalent to the amount of daily wage multiplied by the number of times the driver took leaves of absence from work to contest the improper apprehension,” dagdag ng explanatory notes.

“If unemployed, self-employed or with business, the compensation is equivalent to the prevailing minimum wage in the locality where the driver was apprehended, multiplied by the number of times the driver appeared before the traffic adjudication board to contest the improper apprehension,” giit pa ng panukala.