Sports car driver fined only P150 for using EDSA bus lane

A motorist in a sports car who used EDSA's bus lane was fined only P150 instead of P1,150 after he made the excuse that he was from the province and not used to Metro Manila's main thoroughfare.

According to Mark Salazar's report on "24 Oras," the 26-year-old driver was fined P150 for disregarding traffic signs instead of P1,150 for using the bus lane.

The sports car was caught on video on Saturday using the bus-only lane on the southbound side of the Ortigas flyover despite the lack of traffic—and then following an ambulance in the same lane near SM Megamall.

Authorities flagged down the driver in Guadalupe.

According to Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) spokesperson Celine Pialago, the driver's excuse would have been understandable when the policy was first implemented.

"...nagkakalituhan pa dahil nagkakaroon pa ng information campaign, ina-adjust pa po 'yung bilang ng mga authorized unit para sa pang-publikong sasakyan, wala pa pong concrete barriers," Pialago said.

"Ngayon po kung hindi lang natin alam na, galing lang ho tayo sa ibang probinsya, hindi po natin- hindi po tayo na-inform na ang EDSA bus way po ay para lamang sa mga city buses at emergency vehicles, hindi po consideration 'yun," she added.

Pialago said that the violation on the ticket cannot be changed.

"Ang sistema po kasi sa apprehension, physical and on-time 'yung nangyari po doon sa ating violator na nakasakay po sa Ferrari. Most probably than not po hindi na 'yan magbabago," she said.

"Pero magsisilbi po itong aral sa lahat po ng ating mga traffic constable," she added.

The MMDA has repeatedly said that only city buses, ambulances, and emergency government vehicles may use the EDSA bus way.

"Siguro, ang pinaka-consideration na dito kapag na-flag down ka, may sakay kang buntis na manganganak, life and death situation. 'Yun po, kaya nating tanggapin 'yun," Pialago said. — Joahna Lei Casilao/BM, GMA News