QUEZON CITY (PIA) - Metro Manila Council (MMC) President and concurrent San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora announced on Wednesday, October 25 that the council has approved the imposition of heavier fines to erring motorists who continue to disregard the use of “Exclusive City Bus Lane or Bus Carousel Lane” solely for buses and emergency vehicles. 

Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Regulation No. 23-002 Series of 2023 was made after numerous MMDA records showed that drivers of privately owned vehicles, motorcycle riders and other unauthorized motor vehicles continue to pass through the exclusive lane.

Despite constant warnings and reminders of traffic enforcers, deliberate defiance of the policy have resulted in injury and even death in many instances. 

According to the regulation, from P1,000, the prescribed fine is now up by P5,000 for the 1st offense, P10,000 fine an one month suspension of Driver’s License for 2nd offense, P20,000 and one year suspension of license on the 3rd, and P30,000 with a recommendation of revocation of license to the Land Transportation Office (LTO) for the 4th and last offense. 

If the violator refused to halt when apprehended by a traffic enforcer with a clear demonstration of intention to flee, the offense will be considered in its third, applying prescribed penalties.

The Bus Carousel Lane regulation in EDSA was created in 2018 to ease traffic congestion in the busiest road in Metro Manila. (PIA-NCR)