The Land Transportation Office-Zamboanga (LTO-9) has deputized the police and traffic enforcers to beef up its campaign against colorum vehicles in Zamboanga City.

This means that police personnel and traffic enforcers are now authorized to apprehend traffic violators, which is normally under the scope of LTO, especially when traffic violations come with more severe fines ranging from P1,078 to as much as P1 million.

They are also allowed to confiscate driver’s licenses, impound vehicles, and issue Temporary Operator’s Permits (TOPs).

City administrator and concurrent chairperson of the city’s Tricycle Adjudication Board (TAB), Atty. Wendel Sotto, said that LTO’s heavier penalties for traffic violations are expected to prevent owners of colorum vehicles from their willful disregard of traffic and road regulations.

The deputation came after LTO-9 raised concerns about the alarming number of colorum vehicles plying the city streets.

LTO-9 said the move to deputize police personnel and traffic enforcers aims to augment LTO manpower in enforcing traffic laws and road regulations city-wide even during nighttime and on weekends.