Team impounds 41 vehicles in April

THE Traffic Enforcement Agency of Mandaue (Team) seized about 41 unregistered vehicles during its random checkpoint in April 2021.

Team executive director Edwin Jumao-as told SunStar Cebu that they have impounded 37 motorcycles, two four-wheeled vehicles and two trucks.

He said some of the drivers are unaware that their vehicle is unregistered, particularly those who were just renting the vehicles or were operating the vehicles for work.

Jumao-as said one of the trucks was a delivery truck of a soft drink company in Mandaue City and the driver was not aware that the truck was unregistered.

Jumao-as said most of these seized vehicles are personally used. Despite not having their vehicle registered, they still operate hoping they could get away with it.

Some of the seized motorcycles were also used as “habal-habal” or motorcycle taxis.

Jumao-as said “habal-habal” drivers are not yet allowed to operate in Mandaue City.

He said the Land Transporation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) gave authorization to operate only to Angkas.

Aside from seizing the unregistered motorcycles, Jumao-as said they also issued a citation ticket with a violation of “social distancing” and a penalty of P1,000 to these habal-habal drivers.

Of the 41 seized unregistered vehicles, 20 remain unclaimed in the Team impounding area, said Jumao-as.

It can be recalled that on March 2021, Team imposed that it would release the unregistered vehicles from its custody only if the owner can present the registration of the vehicle aside from paying the necessary fees.

This is to get rid of unregistered vehicles traveling in Mandaue City since five percent of the violators apprehended in the city have not registered their vehicles and do not have a license, said Jumao-as.

Meanwhile, Jumao-as told SunStar Cebu that the ordinance sponsored by Mandaue City Councilor Jimmy Lumapas pertaining to the 30-day period of amnesty for the impounded vehicles from the last five years had passed the final reading.

He said they will meet with the Team board this week to decide on the date when they will start giving amnesty. (KFD)