Laoag council Oks new traffic code

By Dominic B. dela Cruz (Staff Reporter)

Laoag City—After a thorough study and a series of deferments, the Sangguniang Panlungsod has approved this city’s new traffic and order code.

Laoag councilor Edison Bonoan thanked Laoag vice mayor and council presiding officer Vicentito M. Lazo for helping him in finalizing the ordinance as well as other council members who supported the measure.

Mr. Bonoan, as the movant, noted that the ordinance applies to the operation of motorized vehicles—either private or public, animal-drawn vehicles and bicycles including electric bikes—and the conduct of pedestrians.

 

Traffic routes

In the ordinance, the traffic route along Jose Rizal Street is designated as two-way street with parking not allowed on both sides.

Likewise, the new code also designates “one way west bound”, “one way east bound”, “one way north bound” and “one way south bound” with their respective traffic signs.

During peak hours, there will be “no left turn from” 7 to 8:30 am and 4:30 to 6:30 pm for those travelling along Mac Arthur Highway going to Airport Avenue and travelling along Airport Avenue going to Gilbert Bridge except for public utility jeepneys.   

All slow-moving vehicles like tricycles, bicycles, electric bikes, calesas and motorcycles should use the outer most lane of the national roads, including Airport Road going to LIA and from Northwestern University to the boundary of Paoay, Ilocos Norte.

Parking is now also disallowed on either side of the shoulder of national roads.

The code also calls for a truck ban from 6 to 6:30 pm along Rizal Street to Trece Martirez Street; and from Gen. Segundo Avenue to Apolonio Castro Avenue.

For loading and unloading zones, public utility buses and jeepneys will have their own terminals as reflected in the business and licenses division while tricycles-for-hire will also have their own terminals with strictly no double parking and not exceeding 10 tricycles starting from a distance of six meters from the corner.

A Calesa terminal will be located along the west side of the street west of the Laoag City Public Market and Commercial Complex.

 

Calesas, e-bikes

With this new ordinance, Mr. Bonoan said calesas and electric bikes should also register with the city treasurer’s office for the current year in accordance with existing ordinances, rules and regulations.

Registration and number plates will be issued for them for a reasonable fee. Those with no permit face a fine of PHP2,000 and/or imprisonment of 10 days at the discretion of the court.

He added that any driver of these type vehicles should have their respective driver licenses issued by the LTO except calesas, which will be issued at the treasury office for their license to operate. Drivers should always carry their licenses at all times.

 

Implementation of traffic rules

Meanwhile, traffic rules within the city will be strictly implemented.

Reckless driving, right-of-way for police and other emergency vehicles, tampering with vehicles, hitching to vehicles, driving or parking on sidewalks, driving under the influence of liquor or narcotic drugs, obstruction of traffic and the duty of driver in case of accident will now be penalized.

Driver of any type of vehicle including electric bikes and calesas whether attended or unattended will be penalized with a fine of PHP1,000 if they park within an intersection, on a crosswalk, within six meters of the intersection of curb lines, within four meters of the drive way entrance to any fire station or fire hydrants, in front of a private driveway, on the roadway side of any vehicle stopped or parked at the curb or edge of the road and at any place where official signs have been erected prohibiting parking, provided that any unauthorized “No Parking” or “Reserved” signs shall be immediately confiscated and the owner of the establishment concerned shall be warned that a repetition of the same will be subjected to penalty.

Additional fees will be paid by the violator for towing fee and vehicle storage fee in the amount of PHP3,000 and PHP 500. per day, respectively in case of towing and impounding.

Other violations including operating a motor vehicle recklessly, cutting in and out of the traffic lanes, cutting the corner of a blind curve, making a “U” turns in areas with No “U” turn sign, coming out of side streets or driveways without precautions, racing on roads or streets, failure to observe right hand rule to yield the “ Right of Way” at highway intersections, driving on the wrong side of the street, backing against the flow of traffic, overtaking from the wrong lane, improper start from parked position, driving without lights during the hours prescribed by law, driving against the flow of traffic, driving or crossing the safety island not intended for motor vehicles and disregarding automatic signaling devices or light or any traffic signals, signs or markings faces a fine of PHP1,000.

A PHP1,000 fine also awaits those speeding or fast driving, entering a “Do Not Enter” street, disregarding “No Left Turn and “No Right Turn” signs, passing thru when ordered to stop by a traffic enforcer, obstruction of traffic, arrogance refusing conveyance, driving a motor vehicle without horn or with horns but making a startling sound, with open mufflers with startling sound, emitting excessing smoke, with metallic tires without proper permit, with an improvised front or rear plate when required, failure to display a red flag or red light at rear and of the load, operating an “S” vehicle without a commercial or trade name, driving a motor truck without capacity markings, allowing passengers to ride on the running board, driving without carrying driver’s license, operating a motor vehicles with an unauthorized siren, failure to wear prescribed front seat belts, bus/jeepney loading and unloading passengers in an illegal terminal and no owner/manager of an establishment put up unauthorized “No Parking”  or “Reserved”  signs or similar devices for confiscation of the object plus a P1,000.00 fine.

Other offenses also include driving with an invalid license, failure to present license card, driving without first securing a driver’s license and operating vehicle with an invalid/fake registration will be fined PHP3,000.

Driving under the influence of liquor or narcotic drug and failure to wear the standard protective motorcycle helmet or failure to require the back rider to wear the same will be fined in the amount of PHP5,000 and PHP2,000, respectively.

Mr. Bonoan added that violators will be issued a citation ticket by authorized persons and that they should pay their fines at the city treasurer’s office. Failure to pay the violation within two weeks will result in the filing of a case against the violator in court.