Ormoc police gets radar guns

ORMOC, Philippines – This city is the first local government unit in Eastern Visayas to implement speed limits with the use of speed radar guns.

On his birthday last April 7, Mayor Richard Gomez donated four radar speed guns to the Ormoc police through Senior Superintendent Ramil Ramirez, city police chief. 

Radar guns are used to tag drivers who violate the speed limit imposed on specific roads.

Gomez said he bought the radar guns using his personal money to beef up road safety, noting that the implementation of the Helmet Law is not enough. “It’s about saving lives,” he said. 

The Ormoc police started using the radar guns early this month after conducting a public information drive among public utility drivers and over the radio. 

The police imposed a speed limit of 70 kilometers per hour along national roads within city boundaries, 40 kph within the city proper and 20 kph along junctions, crowded streets, school zones and the poblacion. 

A fine of P300 is imposed on violators caught by city policemen and P1,000 by Land Transportation Office personnel.

At least 117 were fined for violating the speed limits from May 1 to 21 while 1,377 have been arrested for violation of the Helmet Law since February, police records show. At least 600 drivers of “colorum” tricycles were also arrested.

City treasurer Delia Vilbar said they collected a total of P1,009,985 from traffic violators from Jan. 1 to May 15, this year compared to only P204,860 in 2015.

More than collecting penalties, Gomez said he wants to save lives, saying accidents involving speeding vehicles are “avoidable occurrences.”