Naga earns P 1.2 M/mo from wheel clamp fines

NAGA CITY --- The city government here collects an average of P 1.2 million fines monthly from violators of its wheel clamp ordinance, the Public Safety Office (PSO) said.

PSO chief Renne Gumba said around 80 percent of wheel clamp violators were vehicle drivers from neighboring towns of Magarao, Camaligan, San Fernando, Calabanga, Pili and other areas.

Based on PSO record, some 30 to 40 vehicles daily are apprehended by traffic personnel for violation of the wheel clamp ordinance.

Most of the vehicles apprehended were illegally parked in wheel clamp areas located in the old commercial business district or known as “centro”, Panganiban Drive, Magsaysay Avenue, and Peñafrancia Avenue.

The ordinance was enacted to instill discipline among drivers so that they will learn to park their vehicles properly in designated parking areas only, Gumba said.

City Ordinance No. 2018-18 or “The Towing and Expanded Wheel Clamp Ordinance of Naga City, amended Ordinance No. 2006-065 or the Wheel Clamp Ordinance, authorized the towing and disposition of abandoned, stalled, and illegally parked vehicles.

The ordinance imposes penalties on violators who pay as much as P1,000. It was approved during the last term of the Mayor John Bongat but was only implemented when Mayor Nelson Legacion assumed office in 2016.

According to the City Treasurer’s Office, the income from wheel clamp fines is a big help to the city as tax collections have decreased during to the pandemic.

Naga’s PSO has a total of 140 personnel who have various assignments, 20 of whom are assigned in traffic, while another 20 personnel are tasked in ordinance enforcement.

Gumba added that the PSO is also implementing Ordinance No. 2019-058 or the Truck Ban Ordinance, which resulted to the apprehension of 20 violators in June this year.

Meanwhile, Maximo Camacho, the towing operator accredited by the city government, informed the PSO that he is ready to start his towing service with the operationalization of his two-way radio communication facilities.