EDSA busway violation: Cop, ambulance driver fined

MANILA, Philippines — A motorcycle-riding police officer and an ambulance driver were among the latest violators of a policy banning unauthorized vehicles from going through the EDSA bus lane.

On April 25, enforcers of the Department of Transportation’s Special Action and Intelligence Committee for Transportation (DOTr-SAICT) pulled over a motorcycle driven by an alleged member of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Forensic Group at the EDSA Bus Carousel’s Quezon Avenue station in Quezon City.

The police officer initially claimed that he had steered onto the wrong lane, but later invoked being a fellow law enforcer to avoid being penalized after he failed to present a driver’s license and his motorcycle’s official receipt and certificate of registration (OR/CR).

“Tropa tayo! Walang talo-talo (We are colleagues! We’re good),” he told the SAICT enforcer, who issued him a ticket for disregarding traffic signs, failure to carry an OR/CR and driving without a license.

SAICT personnel also pulled over an ambulance whose driver used its siren as he drove through the busway near the Kamuning station on April 26.

The ambulance driver told enforcers he used the siren as he was about to fetch a patient. The SAICT said only ambulances carrying patients and responding to emergencies are allowed in the busway.

Only city buses, emergency vehicles like fire trucks and police vehicles, as well as convoys of the President, Vice President, Senate President, House Speaker and Chief Justice are allowed to use the EDSA Bus Carousel lane, according to the government.

Violators are fined P5,000 to P30,000, depending on the frequency of the offense, and may have their driver’s license canceled.