Citom clamps 235 vehicles for illegal overnight parking

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City traffic enforcers have clamped 235 vehicles last month for illegal overnight parking in public roads.

The violation is seen as a risk to the lives of people because fire trucks and police cars responding to emergencies cannot immediately pass through during emergency situations.

Joy Tumulak, City Traffic Operations Management operations chief, said the owners or drivers of said vehicles were made to pay a P500 fine each before the clamps were removed.

One vehicle owner was surprised to discover that CITOM clamped his double cab parked overnight at a pay-parking area at the Fuente Osmeña Rotunda.

“Ako lang pahinumdoman ang publiko nga bisan og sa mga (I would like to remind the public that even the) designated parking areas daplin sa karsada gidili ang (by the side of the road are not allowed for) overnight parking,” Tumulak said.

CITOM has launched a campaign against vehicles parked in streets overnight because of complaints from firemen that every time there are fire incidents they could not easily enter the streets, especially those in the interior portions of the barangays.

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board has required owners of public utility vehicles to also have a garage for their units, but many have not taken heed.

Meanwhile, Tumulak said eight of 45 drivers issued with warrants of arrest for failing to settle their traffic penalties had been arrested and turned over to the court.

Tumulak urged the other drivers who have pending warrants to settle their obligations now before the CITOM’s Traffic Violations Bureau so the court would withdraw the order and drop the cases against them.—(FREEMAN)