THE Cagayan de Oro City Police Office (Cocpo) will strictly implement the “No Helmet, No Travel” policy in the city starting November 1.
The implementation is in accordance with the directive from Police regional director Chief Superintendent Jufel Adriatico, who said that one of the causes of death in vehicular accidents, particularly motorcycle incidents, is the non-wearing of helmets.
“We already have a tarpaulin for this campaign so that the public would be informed of this campaign,” Police Chief Inspector Ariel Philip Pontillas, station commander of Police Station 1 in Divisoria, said.
Pontillas assured the public to apprehend not only the civilians but also police personnel who failed to wear standard protective motorcycle helmets.
He clarified that though the police are not deputized by the Land Transportation Office, they can still apprehend motorcycle riders without helmet through a city ordinance.
Under the Motorcycle Helmet Act of 2009, motorcycle drivers and back riders caught not wearing the standard protective motorcycle helmet while driving will be fined P1,500 for the first offense, P3,000 for the second offense and P5,000 for the third offense, and confiscation of the driver’s license for the fourth and succeeding offenses.
Adriatico said police violating the law will not just be fined but will also face administrative charges. If found guilty, police personnel would be suspended, he said.
