Increase in fine for drunk driving mulled

By Aileen P. Refuerzo

BAGUIO CITY – An increase in the penalty for driving under the influence of liquor or drugs from P1,000 to P5,000 has been proposed here.

Councilor Betty Lourdes Tabanda who proposed to amend Ordinance No. 7-84 or the city’s Comprehensive Transportation and Traffic Regulations for this purpose said the updating of the fine for said offense has long been overdue.

“With the increasing number of vehicular accidents associated with driving under the influence of either alcohol or drugs, there is a need to increase the said penalty to eradicate or at least lessen the said incidents,” Tabanda noted in her proposed amendatory ordinance.

“The outcome will hopefully lessen vehicular accidents, injuries to the motorists or citizens, damage to property and even save lives. A higher penalty for said offense would be commensurate to the outcome it may yield, which sole purpose is for the safety of the motorists and the citizenry,” she added.

Tabanda’s proposal will be discussed by the city council soon.

As this developed, the city council approved Tabanda’s resolution requesting the Dept. of Transporation and Communication (DOTC), Land Transportation Office (LTO), Highway Patrol Group, the city police, Dept. of Trade and Industry (DTI), the city treasury office and other concerned agencies to strictly implement and enforce Republic Act No. 10054 or the Motorcycle Helmet Act.

“Due to the unstable prices of fuel nowadays, there has been a substantial increase of individuals who are riding motorcycles within the streets of the city (and) we often see a lot of motorcycles plying our streets but do not comply with the use of protective helmets,” Tabanda said.

“For the protection of the riders, there is an urgent need to strictly implement the mandates of R.A. 10054 specifically on the proper wearing of the prescribed motorcycle helmet for drivers and back riders.”

Under the act, violators are subject to pay fines ranging from P1,500 to P10,000.