‘Contest traffic tickets online’

Motorists cited for traffic violations by enforcers of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority have the option to contest their citations through an online filing platform.

According to the MMDA, motorists may fill out an online complaint via Google Form and upload the necessary documents like the traffic citation ticket, driver's license, and the vehicle's official receipt and certificate of registration.

Within three working days, the MMDA -Traffic Adjudication Division, which is in charge of hearing the complaints, will contact the motorist for the pre-processing of the contested ticket.

MMDA acting chairperson Carlo Dimayuga III said that the online filing of contests is limited, in the meantime, to physical traffic apprehensions.

Apprehensions via the MMDA's non-contact apprehension scheme will not be covered and entertained in the online platform pending the final decision of the Supreme Court on the NCAP issue.

The pre-processing is the preliminary phase where TAD assesses the basis or merit of the complaint, as well as the propriety of attachments.

The in-person hearing between the complainant and the enforcer who issued the traffic violation ticket, as well as the the hearing officer, will then be scheduled.

The hearing officer will then issue a resolution either affirming the validity of the ticket or rescinding it if the complaint was found meritorious.

Said resolution will be emailed or sent via postal mail to the complainant at his or her request.

In case of an unfavorable resolution, the complainant can physically file a motion for reconsideration addressed to the head of TAD and can, likewise, physically file an appeal addressed to the MMDA chairperson should there be an unfavorable resolution of the MR.

Protests can be filed from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Friday. Those filed beyond 5 p.m. would be considered accepted on the next day.

The MMDA said it hopes to lessen the exposure of complainants and MMDA personnel to Covid-19 through the online filing of traffic violation complaints.

It will also lessen the instances of filing contests with incomplete documents since these are required fields in the form.

The agency warned that uploading inappropriate documents or attachments shall disqualify the client from further using the electronic platform. Should they wish to pursue their case, they have to proceed to the TAD office at the agency's headquarters in Makati.