Nasaan ‘yung 5 minutes? Working Policies on Illegal Parking

May mga attorneys in Manila na katulad ng sa ndvlaw.com na madalas naming gamitin sa blog na ito para sa references, may ibang lawyers naman na dahil may alam sa batas, sinusubukang takasan ito. Iyan ang natunghayan natin sa isang recent na viral video kung saan na-involve ang isang hindi pinangalanang fiscal na hinihingan ng MMDA traffic enforcer ng lisensya. Eto ang original video mula kay Gadget Addict.

Kapag susuriin ang video, makikita na ang issue ng MMDA ay ang paghingi ng lisensya ng driver dahil siya ay inabutang illegally parked. Ayon sa website ng MMDA, ang illegal parking ay tinutukoy bilang ang sumusunod:

An illegally-parked vehicle refers to one which is parked in areas prohibited by existing law or ordinance for parking purposes or those designated by the MMDA and/or the local government units (LGUs) as NO PARKING areas or zones. The following are two (2) types of illegally-parked vehicles:

“Attended illegally parked vehicle” is an illegally parked vehicle whose driver is present or would appear at any time prior to the actual clamping to the tow truck and who is willing and able to move out the illegally parked vehicle without delay.

“Unattended illegally parked vehicle” is an illegally parked vehicle which does not fall under the definition of attended illegally parked vehicle.

Bukod dito, makikita din sa website na nakadetalye ang mga lugar kung saan bawal mag-park.

1. All national roads in Metro Manila.

2. Primary and secondary roads of cities and municipalities in Metro Manila that are:

a. Within six (6) meters of any intersection or curved lane;

b. Within four (4) meters of driveways or entrances to any fire station, hospital, clinic and other similar establishment;

c. Within four (4) meters of fire hydrants;

d. On the roadside of any legally parked vehicle;

e. On pedestrian crosswalks;

f. In front of any authorized driveway;

g. On the sidewalks, paths and alleys not intended for parking;

h. At the foot or near bridges;

i. At any place where official signs have been erected prohibiting parking and/or declared NO PARKING ZONE by the MMDA such as the Mabuhay Lanes. See attached link for reference:https://www.facebook.com/MMDAPH/posts/967756373263025;

j. Other areas duly declared as “NO PARKING ZONE” provided by law or ordinances.

Ngayon, kapag ang isang sasakyan ay nakitang illegally parked, ito ay pwedeng i-tow o batakin. Isa sa mga considerate measures na ipinatutupad ng MMDA ay ang 5-minute rule. Kung ang isang kotse, kahit minamaneho pa ng isang attorney in Manila, ay illegally parked, ang tow truck ay bubusina ng 5 times para alertuhan ang driver at limang beses pa mula pagtapos ng 1 minute. Ang MMDA ay magbibigay pa ng karagdagang 4 minutes para rito. In short, pwede ka na agad i-tow for illegal parking. 

(See also: Bawal ang Single sa EDSA? High Occupancy Vehicle Policy)

Sakaling ang driver ay umabot at matanggal niya ang kaniyang sasakyan bago lumipas ang 5 minutes niyang pataan, siya pa rin ay hihingan ng license para ma-issue-han ng ticket. Bukod dito, ilan sa mahahalaga rin malaman ay ang parked vehicle which is defined as a vehicle na completely immobile, walang driver, at higit sa lahat ay patay ang makina (kaya maraming imbes na mag-park ay nag-aabang sa kalye habang naka-hazard) at obstruction naman ay ang pagpo-position ng sasakayan kung saan, dahil sa paghinto mo, ay hindi makausad ang ibang kotse at pati na rin ang mga pedestrian.

Hindi na kailangan ng attorney in Manila para pakatandaan na dapat ay matuto tayong mag-park sa tamang lugar, huwag harangan ang daloy ng trapiko at paglalakad ng pedestrians, alamin ang mga karapatan bilang mamayan, at makipag-usap nang maayos sa law enforcement lalo kung alam mo rin na ika’y may pagkakamali.

Trivia: Definition of parking; iba pa sa (also define) obstruction.