The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has recorded a sharp decline in traffic violations since the resumption of the No Contact Apprehension Policy (NCAP) earlier this week.

According to the MMDA, daily apprehensions dropped from an average of around 3,000 to just 1,112 on Monday, the first day of NCAP’s reimplementation. The number fell further to 952 on Tuesday and 797 on Wednesday.

NCAP uses closed-circuit television cameras and digital technology to detect and document traffic violations without the need for on-ground enforcers. Motorists caught under the system can settle their fines online or at the MMDA office, or they may contest their violations through official channels.

MMDA Chairperson Romando Artes earlier clarified that each violation will be manually reviewed by personnel before the issuance of tickets, ensuring accuracy and fairness.

The policy resumed after the Supreme Court partially lifted its temporary restraining order (TRO), allowing only the MMDA to implement the NCAP while it remains suspended in certain local government units.

The TRO was originally issued in August 2022 following petitions by transport groups — including Kapit, Pasang Masda, Altodap, and the Alliance of Concerned Transport Organizations — against ordinances enforcing NCAP in five cities: Manila, Quezon City, Valenzuela, Muntinlupa, and Parañaque. Among the contested provisions was the requirement for registered vehicle owners, rather than drivers, to bear responsibility for violations — a practice petitioners claimed was unconstitutional.