PIA Press Release Thursday, January 26, 2012Davao City eyes purchase of speed camerasDAVAO CITY Jan. 26 (PIA)-- The Traffic Management Center of the local government of Davao City is eyeing the purchase of speed cameras to detect overspeeding vehicles in city streets and highways.This according to Desiderio Cloribel TMC head, who said their unit is exploring the possibility of acquiring one mobile camera which automatically detects the speed of vehicles. The camera unit would roam around Davao to check for overspeeding vehicles particularly Public Utility Jeepneys or PUJs which are mandated to follow a 30 kilometer per hour speed limit. However Cloribel said the cameras are expensive and said that they are open to the possibility of just using manual camera capture, using regular video cams which are cheaper. But he says this will need an ordinance if the manual system will be adopted to catch speed violators. Cloribel says catching overspeeding vehicles without cameras is a difficult task, the pursuit vehicles would also resort to overspeeding just to catch the violator. Meanwhile according to figures released from the TMC, about 27,794 traffic violations have been apprehended by the center which is made up of elite Traffic Eagle Squad, Motorcycle units and field personnel. About 23, 838 driver’s licenses were confiscated, 1,395 license plates taken and 1,344 vehicles impounded. Further, about 1,806 trisikads were confiscated due to violation of City Ordinance 52, or the prohibition of trisikads (makeshift tricycles) on city streets and highways. Revenue generated thru fines amounted to P585,900.00. (PIA/RG Alama) |