By Mae Singuay

The Bacolod Traffic Authority Office (BTAO) has started to implement City Ordinance (CO) 818, which establishes tow-away zones on various streets in Bacolod City.

BTAO head, Police Major Junji Liba said they will implement a dry run of CO 818 for two weeks.

“For two weeks, we will not apprehend the violators. The implementation now is just an information dissemination drive in order for them to be informed that the said local law is being implemented, and by next month the penalties will be imposed,” Liba said.

The full implementation of the ordinance will start on October 9.

CO 338 — which regulates traffic, parking, towing, and other transport or commuting activities — will also be imposed.

Liba said the BTAO and the Metro Bacolod Towing, an accredited towing company, will be assigned to implement the said ordinances.

A minimum of P100 will be fined for violators of CO 338.

Under CO 818, operators of public utility vehicles, private vehicles, and tricycles illegally parked in prohibited areas will be fined.

The wheel clamping penalties are P600 for sedan class vehicles, P800 for medium-sized vehicles, and  P1,000 for heavy vehicles.

For towing, the fees are P1,500 for light vehicles; P1,000 for two or three-wheeled vehicles; P2,500 for medium-sized vehicles; and P4,500 for heavy vehicles will be imposed for the first four kilometers.

An additional P200 fee will be charged for every succeeding kilometer aside from the base fee.

Liba said impounding and storage fees will also be charged: P200 per day for the first and second month, P350 per day for the third and fourth month, and P500 per day for the fifth and sixth month./MS, WDJ