THE Baguio City Council approved on third and final reading an ordinance amending Ordinance Numbered 78, Series of 2018, which governs the towing of vehicles in the public right-of-way in the city.
Among the salient provisions of the amendment are provisions expanding the towing ordinance to cover motorcycles parked along public roads, which will be covered with a towing fee of P500 for the first four kilometers from the point of origin to the impounding facility, as well as an additional P50 charge for every two kilometers of distance thereafter.
The towing fees for medium vehicles weighing from 4,501 kg and 7,500 kg have also been raised from P2,500 to P3,000, while the towing fee for heavy vehicles or those weighing more than 7,500 kg has been raised from P4,500 to P6,000.
An additional fee will also be levied against towed vehicles for every two kilometers beyond the initial four that they are towed, with rates based on vehicle size classification. The fees will be P200 for light vehicles, P300 for medium vehicles, and P500 for heavy vehicles.
The amendment provides a five-minute grace period for vehicle owners to remove their vehicles from any public right-of-way before authorities tow the vehicle in question.
Under the amendment, vehicles must also be claimed within 24 hours of towing, with fees imposed for every succeeding day that the vehicle is not claimed, based on size classification – P100 for motorcycles, P500 for light vehicles, and P1,500 for heavy vehicles. Failure to reclaim a towed vehicle within 90 days will be grounds for appropriate disposal by the city, either through scrapping for parts or a general auction conducted by the local government.
Vehicles that are found to be encroaching on a road right-of-way that cannot be towed due to either lack of currently available towing equipment or accessibility will instead be issued a Traffic Citation Ticket for obstruction, with a penalty of P1000 per day.
