How motorcyclist tried to trick NCAP

SEE HOW THEY COMPLY Authorities may say the No-Contact Apprehension Policy is having the expected effect on road discipline, as shown by this photo taken on Commonwealth Avenue, Quezon City, on Friday. —NIÑO JESUS ORBETA

At least one motorist was sure to find a way to break the rules, as traffic authorities must have anticipated after implementing this week the No-Contact Apprehension Policy (NCAP).

The Land Transportation Office (LTO) on Friday said it had suspended for 90 days the license of a motorcyclist who partially covered his license plate so it would not be detected by cameras.

Under the NCAP, traffic violations caught on camera, such as defiance of the odd-even scheme and illegal use of certain roads, would be given a citation and corresponding fine.

READ: NCAP Day 4: MMDA logs slight increase in traffic violations

Show-cause, suspension

LTO chief Vigor Mendoza II said the suspect, a resident of San Juan City, was seen in a viral Facebook video driving a motorcycle with its license plate covered with packaging tape on its first three letters.

The video titled “NCAP? No problem, magaya nga (let’s follow this),” also showed a passenger behind the motorcyclist wearing a helmet indicating the ride-hailing company the biker worked for.

Mendoza said his agency’s “social media monitoring team” found the video.

“It’s very clear that this is disrespect of the law. The government will not tolerate motorists like him,” he said in a statement.

Mendoza said his agency issued on Thursday a show-cause order on the driver, informing him that his license had been suspended.

He was also directed to explain at a hearing on June 3 why he should not be sanctioned for failure to make his license plate visible.

The driver was also ordered to surrender his license on or before the scheduled hearing as that date would be the start of the 90-day suspension period.

Mendoza urged netizens and the public to report similar violations to the LTO.