Violators of EDSA bus lane face stiff fines starting today

STARTING today, Monday, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority will impose stiffer fines on motorists violating the exclusive bus lane on Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA).

MMDA Chairperson Romando Artes said he will personally lead the enforcement of the new policy along with officials from the Land Transportation Office and the PNP-Highway Patrol Group.

“Starting tomorrow, November 13, the agency will start enforcing the policy calling for the imposition of stiffer fines on those who violate the EDSA bus lane policy),” Artes said. “The imposition of stiffer fines for those not authorized to use the bus lane is also for the safety of motorists.”

Aside from buses, only ambulances and marked government vehicles responding to emergency situations are allowed to use the EDSA bus carousel lane.

Artes said the stiffer fines – up to as much as P30,000 – were approved by the Metro Manila Council (MMC), the policy-making body of the MMDA whose members are the 17 Metro mayors.

Under MMDA Regulation 23-002, erring motorists will be meted a P5,000 fine for the first offense, P10,000 for the second offense plus one-month suspension of their driver’s license aside from being required to undergo a road safety seminar.

A fine of P20,000 and a one-year suspension of driver’s license will be imposed on those violating the policy for the third time while a fourth offense will merit a P30,000 fine and the revocation of the driver’s license of the erring motorist.

Artes earlier said there are many errant drivers of private vehicles, motorcycle riders, and other motor vehicles who use the exclusive bus lane despite constant warnings and reminders from the agency.

Prior to the new policy, the prescribed fine for violation of the exclusive bus lane regulation was P1,000 for each offense.