LTO asks LGus to suspend ‘no contact apprehension policy’

The Land Transportation Office (LTO) requested the local government units (LGUs) to suspend and review the implemented “no contact apprehension policy” or NCAP.

In a statement this Tuesday, LTO chief and Transportation Assistant Secretary Teofilo Guadiz III said that public utility vehicle operators are complaining about paying fines for traffic violations committed by their drivers.

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“Ito po ay pinag-aaralan namin ngayon. Tila po may kakulangan sa policy na maaaring kailangang repasuhin upang ang mismong drayber o nagmamaneho ng sasakyan ang dapat na managot sa paglabag,” the official said.

According to Guadiz, the law states that the registered vehicle owner must pay for traffic violations involving their vehicle under the policy of “command responsibility.” In addition to this is the notion that the car’s owner is driving it.

Guadiz encouraged local officials in cities that implement NCAP to have a dialogue to adjust the rules regarding such a system to catch traffic violators.

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Explanation of the LTO, the LGUs, and Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) implement the NCAP. However, the LTO is said to be only helping by sending an alarm about a vehicle with a traffic violation.

LTO asks LGus to suspend ‘no contact apprehension policy’

Guadiz also paid attention to the vehicles that have been sold, but the vehicle registration has not yet been transferred to the buyer’s name. When NCAP catches the car, the previous owner will still be notified of the traffic law violation.

This Sunday, the Federation of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines (FEJODAP) called on the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the sectoral offices to allow the transfer of ownership of jeepneys that are no longer in their possession due to such matter.

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The No Contact Traffic Apprehension is a regulation that uses CCTV, digital cameras, and/or other devices or technology to collect videos and photographs from arresting vehicles violating traffic laws, rules, and regulations.

It was designed as an addition to the work of MMDA Traffic Enforcers. The No Contact Traffic Apprehension was created to detect moving violations, leaving the detection of administrative offenses to MMDA constables. This is in addition to the fact that some areas are still not covered by CCTVs.

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