MMDA: Driver caught 309 times for same traffic violation in 10 months

MANILA, Philippines — A motorist committed the same traffic violation 309 times in less than a year along the busy stretch of Epifanio delos Santos Avenue (Edsa).

According to the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), CCTV footage showed that the motorist had illegally entered the Edsa Busway 309 times since August 2024.

READ: MMDA launches website for traffic violators caught through NCAP

“Imagine, just one vehicle — and it all happened at night. Maybe because the driver knew it was dark, no operations were happening. No enforcers were around. But just think about it: 309 times in just a few months,” MMDA Chair Don Artes said in a press conference on Tuesday, June 17.

There are only 320 days from August 1, 2024, to June 17, 2025.

Artes said the motorist committed the same traffic violation nine times over the past three weeks, following the resumption of the No-Contact Apprehension Policy (NCAP).

While the MMDA did not disclose the vehicle’s plate number or the driver’s identity, Artes revealed that the motorist resides in San Mateo, Rizal.

MMDA: NCAP needed

Artes said the incident underscores the need to implement the NCAP on major thoroughfares in Metro Manila, emphasizing that MMDA enforcers alone could not have monitored all the violations without the aid of NCAP CCTVs.

“We can’t possibly monitor violations like this manually without NCAP. Just imagine, one vehicle committing 309 violations,” he added.

Artes said the implementation of NCAP would help instill discipline among motorists, discouraging them from violating traffic rules even at night.

“That’s exactly the reason why we need to instill discipline, so that even when there are no enforcers in sight, motorists still follow traffic rules. They need to know they can’t get away with violations because our CCTV cameras are there to catch them,” he explained.

“And take note, even accidents at night can be monitored,” he added.

Artes said the MMDA will report the driver to the Land Transportation Office, describing the case as a “good case study” for addressing habitual traffic violators./mcm

(2025/06/17-13:12)