MMDA: Heavily tinted cars a problem for traffic authorities under driver-only ban

Here’s another roadblock for the controversial driver-only ban in Metro Manila’s highway EDSA.

Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) General Manager Jojo Garcia told the press at their headquarters yesterday that they’ve had trouble checking heavily tinted cars.

The agency launched the ban’s dry run yesterday — to the chagrin of motorists — and flagged down 2,953 violators, the Business Mirror reported.

Under the ban, private vehicles with only the driver inside are not allowed on EDSA, the metro’s main thoroughfare, from 7am to 10am and 6pm to 9pm.

Yesterday, traffic enforcers used flashlights at night to see through heavily tinted cars and check for violators but Garcia said they would need more than just that.

“We have also ordered thermal cameras, handy-cams so we can foil even those who would attempt to use mannequins to avoid the ban,” he said.

Garcia said that about 156 heavily tinted vehicles traversed EDSA during the trial, The Philippine Daily Inquirer reported. He added that the MMDA is working with the Land Transportation Office (LTO) on ways to find a solution for this.

Apart from complaining netizens, senators have also spoken out against the ban. Rappler reported that the senate has even filed a resolution to suspend the driver-only ban.

Despite the backlash, Garcia said earlier today that only the Metro Manila Council, made up of mayors from the metro’s cities and municipalities, can scrap the ban, ABS-CBN News reported.

“We respect the Senate’s resolution, but we need to convene also the Metro Manila Council because the ban was also a resolution of the body,” Garcia said in Filipino to radio station DZMM.

The trial will run for one week.