TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT MODULE

CHAPTER 6
TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT

Objectives:
• Develop understanding of Traffic Law Enforcement.
• Kinds of Enforcement Action.

THE TRAFFIC LAW ENFORCEMENT THEORY:

Order in any society is already dependent upon the uniformity of behavior by its
members. Traffic laws are an attempt to provide specifications for conventional behavior
on highways. The rules for conventional driving behavior were developed mostly from
experiences over the years Those, which have survived the test of time, are the basis for
our present laws and ordinances. The first laws concerning driving behavior resulted from
custom and common usage. When the automobile first appeared on the highway it
becomes necessary to establish certain rules as to how individual drivers should use the
highway Since most conflicts occur because two vehicles attempt to occupy the same
space at the same time It is not surprising that most early traffic laws are concerned with
specifying who had the immediate right to use the road As motor vehicles become more
numerous, highway system becomes more extensive and people learned more about the
problem involved in driving Additional laws were developed to define safe driving behavior
in general.

Traffic laws, like other laws, reflect the belief, behavior, and standard agreed on by
society. They do not relate to behaviors that are necessarily bad in themselves, such as,
laws against theft, assault, and indecency. They exist to identify and encourage behavior
in accord with the accepted pattern, and to deal with those who will not conform and who
aggravate the hazards of traffic.

Increased volumes and speeds of traffic have made necessary an increased

refinement in rules of behavior. Traffic laws, in defining conventional behavior for all
possible situations become more complex They are not always interpreted and applied
uniformly and are always interpreted and applied uniformly and are not self-enforcing
What is officially acceptable driving behavior at a given time depends upon the following
to wit,

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1. The words in the law book which state explicitly the kind of behavior to be followed
2. Judicial interpretation of how the laws are to be applied, 3. Administrative
interpretation of how the laws are to be applied usually reflected by policies,
tolerance, and assignments of enforcement personnel, and
3. How the individual officer feels about driving behavior that occurs in his presence
The law, therefore, is one of the characterizing symptoms of our civilization, and the
quality of the law tends to reflect the quality of civilization that produces it. At its best, it
tends to make it possible for civilized people to live together in peace and happiness. In
this connection, one of the major purposes of the law, is the restraint of those persons
and the preservation of those acts which tend to obstruct and limit the peace and
happiness of society Since the ends of the law are the promotion of justice and the
protection of the welfare, it must serve no master.

The law becomes a mockery when is reduced to the service of special privileges. A
citizen charged with a minor traffic offense sometimes exhausts every means to have his
case disposed of other than established procedures. Such activity is destructive of
enforcement and corrosive of the law, weakening the foundation of society and its
government.

Under these considerations, the purpose of traffic law enforcement, like that of general
law enforcement, is to off-set the selfish motivation and to condition community habits
through conditioning habits of individual It is a basic requirement in the orderly economic
and social development of street and highway transportation Traffic law, like anybody law,
is sterile unless it is inherently sound and supported by effective enforcement machinery.

Since it affects human conduct directly, traffic law enforcement whenever adequate to
the problem in both quantity and quality produces substantial, and meaningful results.
When such productive enforcement is contained over a period of years, community habits
are improving to the extent that less enforcement is necessary to maintain the more
orderly and safer conditions thus produce.

ENFORCEMENT THEORY:

TRAFFIC LAW ENFORCEMENT:

It is the action taken by the police and the court to compel obedience to traffic laws
and ordinances regulating the use and movements of motor vehicles to create a deterrent
to unlawful behavior by all potential violators.

It is also applying to statutes, ordinances, and legally authorized regulations

relating to the use of the streets and highways and the ownership and operation of motor
vehicles.

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It is also the part of enforcement involving arrest, issuance of Traffic Citation

Ticket) or Inspection Report, Summons, or warning of any person to the use of traffic
ways.

Prevent such violation from endangering persons, property or inconveniencing

other users of traffic way, prevent the continued violation, or discourage future repetition.

As a Traffic Law Enforcer, you must decide the kind of action you will take in case
you know any violation Drivers are guided more by the enforcement actions to traffic law
enforcers than by the way the law is written It is therefore important that you should know
so that driver may know exactly what to expect.

Note: Your Consistency in the enforcement of traffic laws builds respect and
compliance with the law.

ENFORCEMENT OF TRAFFFIC LEGISLATION - is the area of activity aimed at

controlling road user behavior by preventive, persuasive, and punitive methods to affect
the safe and efficient movement of traffic.

FUNCTIONS OF TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT:

• POLICE TRAFFIC LAW ENFORCEMENT: The part of the traffic enforcement

performed by the police and other agencies with police power including deterrent
to law violation created by the presence of uniformed police officer and their special
equipment, special assistance to court and prosecutors, and incidental service to
highway users.
• COURT TRAFFIC LAW ENFORCEMENT - the part of traffic law enforcement
performed by the court, by adjudication and penalization.
• POLICE COURT ENFORCEMENT PROCESSES This involves five (5) essentials
steps which the police provide varying responsibilities and influence:
1. Detection - wholly police responsibility and entail looking for defects in the
behavior of motorist, pedestrians, vehicles, equipment, and roadways
conditions requires knowledge on the law on the part of the police.
2. Apprehension - wholly a police responsibility where the police are required to
take action at once to prevent continued and future violation.
3. Prosecution - while this is a court function, the police also provide
corresponding influence through preparation and introduction of evidence or
close contact with the prosecution officer.
4. Adjudication - while is a court function, the police provide influence on this
step by acting as a witness to the prosecution or supplying additional evidence
this step determines the guilt or innocence of the accused.

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5. Penalization - the court imposes the penalty is greatly influenced by previous

records of conviction as provided by the police.

GOALS OF ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITIES:

• To increase the safety level.

• To increase traffic efficiency.
• To ensure a harmonious and comfortable environment. Conflict of interest in the
achievements of these goals sometimes resulted to:
• Attempt to maximized safety sometimes reduces efficiency.
• Maximization of efficiency sometimes detracts from safety. Therefore, in the design
and implementation of any enforcement program, the ideal situation would be to
have a clear concise, and detailed statement of objectives and how they might be
achieved.

OBJECTIVES OF TRAFFIC LAW ENFORCEMENT:

• Preventive Activities - such as preventive patrols, directing. supervising traffic,

investigating accidents, and eliminating road hazards
• Persuasive Activities - such as oral, written warning, or visible patrols
• Punitive Activities - normally dealt with by the courts, police, or traffic authorities.

TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT SYSTEM - The enforcement of traffic law is a complex

procedure. There are many methods of enforcement and various methods of testing their
effects. The "MAJOR ELEMENTS" in the traffic enforcement system are:

• Enforcement system - consists of the legislation, police, court, and penalties

Legislation defines and specifies correct (or incorrect) road user behavior. The
police, court, and to a lesser extent traffic authority are charged with the
responsibility of ensuring that these laws adhere to preventive, persuasive, and
punitive techniques are used to induce compliance with legislation.
• Road users - include pedestrians, pedal cyclists, drivers, and passengers. The
road user’s system can be defined in terms of knowledge, skill, attitude, and
characteristics, such as age, sex, health, road experience, etc. These factors affect
road user behavior which is controlled favorably by the enforcement system.
• Traffic system- consist of the entire road and vehicle complex. The road user
exhibits certain behavioral patterns, which lead to inefficiencies in the traffic system
These inefficiencies can be measured in terms of congested flow and accident.
Each of these elements is a complex system in itself. The elements, with one
another to form the traffic enforcement.

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TRAFFIC LAWS AND THE ROLE OF ENFORCEMENT - Enforcement is a complex

activity because it deals directly with human behavior It is concerned with people's
attitudes, habits, personality, and motives. To deal with law violations effectively, it is
necessary to understand something about the following: What traffic laws are? All traffic
law enforcement based on the traffic law

1. The first laws concerning driving behavior which was developed mostly from
experience over the years resulted from custom and common usage.
2. Traffic laws, like all other laws, reflect the beliefs, behavior, and standard
agreed by society
3. Traffic law violation are classified into two (2) groups, and they are:

A. Hazardous traffic law violation - any violation of any law, ordinance, or regulation
affecting the use or protection of the streets and highways enacted primarily to
regulate the safe movement of vehicles and pedestrians
There are two (2) general kinds of hazardous violation
1. Unsafe behavior - is an action or omission which is hazardous even when
vehicles, streets or people involved comply with the legal provision, and
2. Unsafe condition - is causing or permitting illegal or possibly hazardous
conditions of a driver, street or highways, and vehicles used in traffic.

B. Other traffic law violations - are violations of any law, ordinance, or regulation
affecting the use and protection of streets or highways but which are not enacted
primarily to regulate the safe movement of vehicles and pedestrians.
Note: Understanding how enforcement actions affect drivers often subtle and far-
reaching Understanding these effects will help provide an understanding of the
objectives of enforcement.

POLICE TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT ACTION - The part of the police traffic law
enforcement involving arrest, citation, or warning of any person believed to have violated
a law, ordinance or rules and regulations pertaining to the use of traffic ways, when the
person has knowledge of this action and it is to

1. Prevent such violation from endangering person or property or inconveniencing

other user of the traffic way
2. Prevent continued violation
3. Discourage future violation

KINDS OF ENFORCEMENT ACTION

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I. TRAFFIC ARREST - This is an enforcement action that consists of taking a person

into custody to hold or detain him to answer a charge of law violation before a
court. The arrest is made when the;
a. An offense committed is serious.
b. There is a necessity to avoid continued violation
c. There is reasonable doubt that the violator will not appear in court.

RECORDING THE DATA OF ARREST:

a. Date and time of the arrest.

b. Place of the arrest.
c. The common name of the offense for which the person is arrested.
d. Physical description of the suspect, date of birth nationality, and
marital status.
e. Name of witnesses to the arrest.
f. Name and badge number of arresting officers.

WHEN TAKING PERSON INTO CUSTODY:

a. Consider the possibility that the person you are arresting may
attempt to kill you.
b. Inform him that you are placing him under arrest.
c. Inform him of his right’s re-RA # 7438.
d. A reasonable search may be carried out in connection with the lawful
arrest.

WHEN TRANSPORTING ARRESTED PERSONS:

a. If with radio, request for a transportation unit and maintain custody of your
prisoner until it arrives.
b. Give instructions to the transporting officer about the place where the
suspect is to be delivered.
c. Have the necessary information and instruction written out so that the
transporting officer will not err in delivery?
d. In certain conditions, direct the arrested person to drive his vehicle to your
Headquarters and follow him with your police mobile. If the driver is not in
good condition or the vehicle is in bad shape, let someone drive the vehicle
to the Headquarters.

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FILING OF COMPLAINT - The filing of the complaint shall be made within the
prescribed period as provided for under Article 125 of the Revised Penal Code
unless the suspect waives his right and avail for preliminary investigation.

a. Twelve (12) hours, for crimes or offenses punishable by light

penalties
1. Arresto Menor - A day to 30 days imprisonment
2. Fines - less than 200 pesos
b. Eighteen (18) hours, for crime or offenses punishable by correctional
penalties
1. Prison correctional, suspension and destierro - 6 1 months
and one day to 6 years imprisonment
2. Arresto mayor - 1 month and one day to 6 months.
3. Fines - 200 pesos to less 6, 000 pesos.
c. Thirty-six (36) hours, for crimes of offenses punishable by afflictive
penalties.
1. Reclusion Perpetua - 20 years and one day to forty years
2. Reclusion temporal - 12 years and one day to 20 years
3. Prison mayor and temporary disqualification - 6 years and one
day to 12 years.
4. Fines - 6, 000 pesos and above.

PRELIMINARY FINDINGS AND DISPOSITION OF DRIVER'S LICENSE:

a. During the investigation and within the regulatory period to submit the
suspect for an inquest or if the latter avail for preliminary investigation, the
investigator shall determine if there is a necessity to confiscate or not the
driver's license of the former.
b. And within 72 hours from the filing of the case, the hearing authority shall
make immediate preliminary findings based on police or complaining
witnesses' reports as to whether or not there is the necessity of withholding
the Driver's License confiscated.

RECORDS OF COURT PROCEEDINGS:

a. When the violator appears in Court within 15 days and pleads guilty, the
clerk of court shows the fine schedule and the violator pays the fine at the
Treasurer's Office.
b. If cleared for release, Driver's License returned to the driver

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II. TRAFFIC CITATION - is made of having violator appear in court without physical
arrest. The issuance of citation is the most common enforcement action by the
police This is an efficient system since the majority of violations with minor offenses
are punish promptly by paying their fine at an administrative body with a court
appearance. Or any traffic enforcement action contemplates trial adjudication or
disposition to determine the guilt or innocence of a person charged for a violation
when the individual record of which is kept by the police or some other official
agency for future reference.
The Traffic Citation is a ticket issued to an erring driver apprehended for
certain violations in exchange for his confiscated driver's license and stand as a
temporary driver's license for the period provided for in the face of the ticket. There
are three types of traffic citation such as Temporary Operator's Permit (TOP),
Traffic Violation Receipt (TVR), and Ordinance Violation Receipt (OVR).
1. TEMPORARY OPERATOR'S PERMIT (TOP) - A traffic citation used in the
enforcement of traffic management measures (DOTC MC No. 93-693) and
other special laws by the Land Transportation Office (LTO) Traffic Law
Enforcers (Flying Squad) and other deputized officers It is considered as a
temporary driver's license within the jurisdiction of the issuing agency (Entire
Philippines) for seventy-two (72) hours, upon its issuance. (Republic Act 4136
as amended).
2. TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS RECEIPT (TVR) - A traffic citation used in the
enforcement of traffic management measures (MMDA Traffic Ordinances) and
other special laws by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA),
Traffic Operation Center (TOC) Traffic Law Enforcers, and other deputized
officers. It is considered as a temporary driver's license within the jurisdiction
of the issuing agency (Metropolitan Manila) for seventy-two (72) hours upon its
issuance (Republic Act 7924).
3. ORDINANCE VIOLATIONS RECEIPT (OVR) - A traffic citation used in the
enforcement of traffic management measures (City and/or Municipal traffic
ordinances) and other special laws by the Local Government Units Traffic Law
Enforcers and other deputized officers under the Department of Public Safety
and Traffic Management and/or Manila Traffic and Parking Bureau in case of
the City of Manila. It is considered as a temporary driver's license within the
jurisdiction of the issuing agency (The Local Government Unit) for five (5) day
upon issuance (Republic Act 7160) Nure Executive Order 712 dated March 10,
2008, mandates the DOTC to come up with a single ticketing system in Mein
Manila.

THE APPREHENSION:

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1. You may confiscate the Driver's License or Official Receipt Certificate of

Registration of the vehicle for any violation as provided for under Republic Act
# 4136 as amended and its rules and regulations, MMDA, City and Municipal
Traffic Management Ordinances.
2. You should advise the violator to report at the redemption center within 72
hours in Temporary Operator's Permit (TOP). case of Traffic Violation's Receipt
(TVR), within 5 days in case of Ordinance Violation's Receipt (OVR), but not
less than 24 hours to give allowance for proper transmittal from receipt thereof.
Note: Any complaint regarding the issuance of the traffic citation ticket relative
to the violation charged against the driver shall be filed with the traffic
adjudication board of the issuing agency respectively.

THE USE OF THE TRAFFIC CITATION TICKETS (TOP, TVR AND OVR)

1. Serves as a receipt for the confiscation of a vehicle.

2. Serves a temporary permit to operate a motor vehicle for the period indicated
on the face of the ticket without an extension from the time of confiscation or
apprehension
3. It is an official form of judicial or administrative citation to either administratively
or judiciary.
4. It is also a receipt for the release of the confiscated items after adjudication and
termination of the case.

III. TRAFFIC WARNING - is an enforcement action that does not contemplate

possible assessment of penalty by the court or otherwise as a result of warning
alone. The three kinds of warning.
a. Visual warning - are usually used when you have observed a minor
violation but are importantly occupied at a moment. You indicate by the
gesture of the hand, and of the head, a toot of the horn that you are aware
of the violation. Such action reminds the violators that he has committed the
violation and that the police are observant.
b. Verbal warning - are a form of safety education. You tell the violator that
he has violated the law and explain the hazards of such action They are
frequently used when there is a new enforcement program going into effect
and the preliminary phase calls for a period of public education.
c. Written warning - are a combination of verbal warning and citation. They
gave the spirit of verbal warning and the form of citation Because it is written
and resembles a citation. The written warning has a more noticeable
deterrent effect than a verbal warning. There is no immediate penalty

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attached and it allows the violator an opportunity to profit by his error

emphasizing education rather than discipline.

DECISION OF ENFORCEMENT ACTION - The necessity of establishing policies

including tolerances includes the following factors to be considered.

• Degree of violation: serious or minor violation

• Accuracy of observation: use of mechanical or electronic measuring
devices.
• Continuous or momentary action a factor in some type of violation
• Traffic and weather condition
• Evidence gathered
• A new law or not the latter requires a period of special consideration.

TRAFFIC PATROL

• That part of police traffic supervision consists of driving and walking here and there
is an area or to and from on a road for traffic law enforcement and to provide traffic-
connected service to the public.
• It is also the observation of road conditions, the behavior of the drivers and other
users of vehicles for traffic supervision and law enforcement, and providing
authorized traffic-connected services to the public.

OBJECTIVES OF TRAFFIC PATROL

1. Deterrent to violation and dangerous driving

2. Detecting and apprehending violators
3. Observing and reporting traffic conditions
4. Observing and reporting road condition, including view obstruction, which needs
attention
5. Providing certain services to the public
6. Handling emergencies as they arise and keeping traffic flow smoothly.

TYPES OF TRAFFIC PATROL

1. Line patrol - is a moving patrol or a stationary separation on a specified road

between two points usually on one city street or a section of highways.
2. Area patrol - traffic patrol or stationary patrol observation in an area or heat which
includes a number of streets, roads, or a section of a highway.

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TYPES OF TRAFFIC OBSERVATION:

1. Stationary Traffic Observation - it is a traffic observation at a selected place,

usually one with an unfavorable accident experience or traffic flow problem for
traffic law enforcement purposes and to detect violations to deter possible violation
2. Conspicuous Traffic Observation - it is a stationary observation in which the
observer tries to attract attention by keeping in full view of traffic.
3. Visible Traffic Observation - it is stationary in which the observer is in full view
but located, for example, on a side street, as to require effort on the part of traffic
to discover the observer
4. Conceal Traffic Observation - it is a stationary observation in which the observer
is not visible to persons using ordinary powers of observation from the roadway
being observed.

PURSUIT IN TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT

• Decision - type and seriousness of violation is an important factor to pursuit.

• Pursuit techniques - methods and techniques while on offensive driving
• Safety driving pursuit - on an emergency call, observe caution while on offensive
driving.

STOPPING AND APPROACHING VIOLATOR:

• Stopping a violator must be done with consideration to your safety, the driver you
stopped, to other drivers and pedestrians.
• Approach the violator perfectly on the left side from the rear and be alert for the
unexpected.
• Do not extend your hand inside the motor vehicle when you are asking for the
driver's license or any identification card.
• Consider your strong arm when asking for a driver's license or any identification
card.

TRAFFIC ROAD CHECK

1. Objectives to detect or inspect the following:

• Faulty vehicle equipment
• Registration and licensing violation
• Intoxication or cargo of commercial vehicle for load weight.
2. Types of traffic road check:
• Faulty vehicle equipment

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• Officer- directed road check

3. Consideration during road check:
• Minimum delay to the motorist.
• Through checking procedure.
• Protecting and safety of both motorist and officer.
• Timing, location, and frequency.

OFFICER-VIOLATOR'S RELATIONSHIP

1. Two objectives in dealing with a violator:

a. Immediate objectives - is enforcement action against the driver
b. The ultimate objectives - is to change his future driving behavior
Note. An officer seldom gets complaints on the violation charged against
the driver but usually on how he treated the violators
2. Important points to remember:
a. Violation is a vastly different one each other
b. There are many conflicts in the violator as there are in officer.
c. You are a professional officer there are professional violators
d. Be alert for the unexpected
e. Get your emotion under control
f. Advise the violator of the nature of the alleged violation in a manner that he
can fully understand
g. Do not argue, berate or threaten the violator
h. Be courteous and business-like
i. Avoid telling the violator what to do
j. Never open your conversation in a sarcastic or derogatory way
k. Avoid such opening as
"Di mo ba Alam?
"Sino ka ba sa akala mo?"
"San akala mo ikaw pupunta?"
"Bakit ka ba nag mamadali?

APPROACHING THE VIOLATOR:

• Take time to get ready to talk with the violator.

• Know what is going to do and say.
• Have any equipment you will need such as a flashlight, clipboard, or citation pad.
• Review the facts, which led to your stopping the violator before you begin to talk.

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• Decide what enforcement action you are going to take before you approach the
violator.

SUGGESTED PROCEDURES IN REQUESTING FOR A DRIVER'S LICENSE AND

MOTOR VEHICLE CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRATION:

• Do not put your head or arms in the car's window.

• While waiting for the license, ask the driver, "What is your name, sir?

NEVER ACCEPT ANYTHING OTHER THAN THE PAPERS REQUESTED:

• Ask that the papers being requested be removed from the billfold or other container
• Have the driver hand the requested documents to you outside the window.
• Establish the identity of the driver and check the entries of both license and
registration papers for any possible fraud, or false identities, or falsifications.

OBSERVE THE FOLLOWING IN TERMINATING YOUR CONTRACT WITH THE

VIOLATOR:

1. Explain to the driver what action he must take.

2. Tell him where and when he must appear.
3. Do not discuss probable bail or probable penalties with the violator.
4. Avoid any naughty suggestion that he should engage in the services of a counsel
or how he should plead.
5. When you are certain the driver understands what he should do, close the
interview.
6. And thanking the driver for the cooperation.
7. Explaining how he may avoid further difficulty.
8. Help the driver get safety through traffic.
9. When the violator leaves, do not follow him immediately He may feel that you are
just waiting to nab him again.

TRAFFIC SUPERVISION - Keeping order on the street and highway within existing
regulations to make their use safe and expeditious. The following are police work:

• Traffic accident investigation

• Traffic direction and control
• Apprehensions of violators
All men in the traffic enforcement department should be trained to direct traffic
direction and control on the following

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• Accident scene
• Other emergencies
• Planned special events
• Regular point and integration control
• Directing pedestrian’s movement

HOW TO DIRECT TRAFFIC ON THE FOLLOWING:

• Un signaled intersection
• Signaled intersection
• Between intersection

❖ SUPERVISED ROUTE - Any street or highway on which traffic is supervised to

some consideration degree
❖ POLICE TRAFFIC DIRECTION - That part of police traffic supervision involves
telling drivers and pedestrians how and where they may or may not move or stand
at a particular place, especially during periods of congestion or emergencies. It
generally involves all police activity which is necessary to ensure the smooth and
orderly flow of traffic
❖ POINT/AREA TRAFFIC CONTROL - That part of police direction is concerned
with the control of vehicular and pedestrian movement at a particular area or point
on the street or highway, such as an intersection.
❖ POLICE TRAFFIC ESCORT- That part of police traffic direction that involves
mobile supervision of the movement of one or more traffic
❖ TRAFFIC DIRECTION AND CONTROL – An activity of traffic by which the
movement of traffic units at a particular intersection is controlled and allocated
according to proportionate time to prevent traffic accidents and to maintain the
smooth flow of traffic.

WHISTLE SIGNALS:

• One (1) long blast for STOP

• Two (2) short snappy blasts for GO
• Three (3) blasts to be used for ASSISTANCE and/or for a motorist to be
ATTENTIVE

SIGNALING

• Use a hand signal to designate your decision to the motorist

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• The signal must be uniform and understood by motorist and pedestrians

• Must be clear and positive.
• Do not give them verbally
• Be alert and erect on both feet.
• Look at the person to whom you are signaling.
• The arm signals should be shoulder high and a full circular motion of the arm for
(GO)
• Supplement the arm signal with a whistle
• Stand sideways to incoming traffic while stopping vehicular traffic
• Let your hands hang at the side when not using them.
• The constant waving of hands is confusing and served to distract/ slow down
traffic.
• When changing phases (execute left face etc.) maintain a 90 (degree) turn of the
body. If turns are permitted, describe the movement to be made with an arc of the
man
• To stop a moving lane, the point at the car your intent to stop and allow him to stop
• The hand signal should be with the arm extended and the palm facing the person
to be stopped

SIGNALS AND GESTURES FOR DIRECTING TRAFFIC - Procedures recommended for

use by police in communicating instructions to a motorist in a moving traffic situation.

• OBJECTIVES:
1. Traffic Law Enforcer assigned to traffic control
a. Expected to indicate to drivers and pedestrians how, when, and where they
move.
b. An inexperienced traffic law enforcer immediately presents a problem of
communicating to the people what he wants them to do. This leads to chaos
and confusion and resulted in an impassable traffic flow.
2. The purpose of the instructions receive is to make the meaning clear to drivers and
pedestrians.
a. The instruction to start and to stop a given line of traffic must be clear.
3. Uniformity of signals and Gestures.
a. To all traffic law enforcement and volunteers.
4. Attire and appearance of a traffic law enforcer directing traffic.
a. Be in the official uniform
b. Clean-shaven, haircut, clean uniform, etc.
c. To enable the motorist and pedestrians to recognize the traffic law enforcer.

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d. The manner of his appearance and action either gains or loses the respect
of citizens.
• PRESENTATION:
A. Command of traffic:
1. Stand where you can be seen
a. Normally in the middle of the intersection
b. Exceptions
2. Postures and stances
a. Show that you mean business
b. Weight should be the same on each foot
c. When not signaling, hung at sides.
d. Do not face vehicles, you authorized to move and stand
sideways
B. Gestures used to stop traffic:
1. Point your arm and index finger and look straight to the driver you want to
stop and give him time to stop Them raise your hand only so your palm is
toward the driver
2. Repeat the process for traffic in the opposite direction.
3. Do not lower arms until vehicles from both directions stopped.
C. Gestures to start traffic moving:
1. Stand sideways toward the lanes of traffic in the opposite direction
2. Point your arms and index finger toward the vehicles you want to start. Hold
it until the driver sees you and with your palm up, swing your hand up and
over to your chin. Bend arm only at the elbow.
3. With one side started drop the arm to the side and raise the other arm and
repeat processes for an opposite lane.
4. Use signals when drivers are moving too slow or are hesitant in moving.
D. Right turn gesture:
1. Usually not required at an intersection
2. If required for vehicles to the right point arm at the vehicle, and then point
in the direction he is to move
3. Moving vehicles to your left for right turn you may bend your left arm at the
elbow and with thumb and forearm indicate movement
E. Two officers traffic direction:
1. Left turn vehicles from your left.
a. Stop vehicles from right and direct vehicles making a left turn
to proceed.
2. Left turn vehicles from your right

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a. Turn around facing direction, the vehicle will turn and use the
same procedure above.
3. Streets with only one available moving lane
a. Allow space for cars going straight and turning left
b. Direct the left turn cars with the proper finger, hand, and arm
motions e.g. point an index finger at the vehicle, arm out, get
his attention, point to spot near you where he is to stop, then
stop him with the palm of your hand.
c. Semaphore signals (Signaling arm properly, place it for the
driver to see, straight, the signal arm should be lighted).
F. Two officers traffic direction:
1. Occasional need for two men.
a. If need the first command must be given by the team leader
followed up by the member

TECHNIQUE CONTROL: IN TRAFFIC DIRECTION AND CONTROL

• Keep the intersection open.

• Never allow the motorist to cross when they don't have any exit.
• Stop motorists at their designated stopping lane, however, do not stop motorists near
you, provide motorists sufficient distance to stop gradually.
• Prefer to stop fast-moving vehicles.
• When two or more vehicles are about to obstruct the intersection, stop motorist
affecting it.
• When two or more men directing traffic direction and control, the first command must
be given by the team leader followed up by members.

HOW TO HANDLE A TRAFFIC CONGESTION/JAM

• Traffic congestion/jam is caused by such factors as a vehicular accident. Stalled

vehicle due to engine trouble, absence of a traffic enforcer at an intersection, or
road construction.

STEP TO BE TAKEN IN CASE OF TRAFFIC CONGESTION/JAM:

• Determine the cause of the traffic congestion/jam.

• Where the traffic congestion/jam is caused by vehicular accident, conduct fast,
immediate but complete investigation and remove vehicles involved in the scene
of the accident.

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• If traffic congestion/jam is caused by mechanical trouble, assist the motorist to

push the vehicle to a place where it will not obstruct the flow of traffic.
• Establish yourself and conduct a systematic flow of traffic.
• Observe if the flow of traffic becomes smooth, if not refer back to number one (1).
• Implement proper traffic regulations to avoid further traffic congestion/jamming.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF A TRAFFIC LAW ENFORCER:

The traffic law enforcer assigned in a traffic post has complete responsibility and
commensurate authority in dealing with traffic flow. He is responsible for the following:

• Enforcement of traffic laws, ordinances, rules, and regulations without fear and
favor and assist the general public when necessary and requested.
• Keep in mind that in an intersection or any traffic post the following factors should
be considered on the placement of the traffic policeman.
a. The personal safety of the policeman/enforcer.
b. Visibility of the policeman/enforcer to traffic
c. Visibility of the traffic to policeman/enforcer
d. Non-obstruction to traffic by policeman/enforcer
e. Ability to effect necessary control.
f. Accessibility to persons wishing information or making complains
• The officer shall not leave his post during his hour of duty without permission,
except when properly relieved by another policeman/enforcer. In case of personal
necessity or required by the situation in any police emergency, he shall notify his
station before leaving and upon return to his post.
• He shall respond immediately to any emergency call, for police service within a
responsible distance of his post and if it cannot be done, he shall promptly notify
his station accordingly
• He must be calm and control his temper ever under trying and provoking
circumstances. In warning or correcting a person for a slight infraction of the traffic
regulations. He shall do so in a firm but brief and civil manner and without
obstruction to the flow of traffic or creating congestion
• Shall be in proper uniform, equipment and must personify the best image of the
policeman/traffic enforcement institution.
• In apprehending or issuing a citation to a traffic violator, one (1) minute shall be
the maximum time spent dealing with the offender.
• He must wear their official-issued identification card when undertaking traffic
duties.

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• In the conduct of traffic enforcement action such as arrest/apprehension of

violators of traffic management measures, must be in accordance with the
following procedures.
a. Inform the driver of specific violations and settle the case with appropriate
Traffic Management Redemption Centers concerned, Metropolitan Trial
Court within the prescribed period as provided for in the face of the traffic
citation issued
b. Accomplish clearly and legibly Traffic Citation Ticket from with dispatch
without unnecessary delay/argument, as follows:
• Cite common violations by making the same with an "X"
• "Other" violation/s must be specified within the space
allocated on the Traffic Citation Ticket, citing the specific
numbers/letters as indicated on the related laws, ordinances,
rules, and regulations, and similar issuance.
• Indicate date, time, and place of apprehension on the space
provided Specify on the Traffic citation ticket the nearest
issuing agency redemption center from the place of
apprehension.
• Require the driver to affix his/her signature on the Traffic
Citation Ticket advising of the expiry date of the ticket as
temporary driver's license and the filing of criminal charges for
failure to redeem license within 30 days from date of
apprehension.
• State-specific facts, dates, and information considered vital
for the adjudicating officer to arrive at a fair decision.
• Submit apprehension report together with driver's license
strictly within a number of hours as provided for under the
traffic management measures being enforced from date and
time of apprehension
c. Issue Traffic Citation Ticket to traffic violators apprehended by traffic aides
under his/her supervision. But in no case shall he/she allow another person
to issue/sign a name on his behalf
d. Print his/her complete name, unit, and station on the Traffic Citation Ticket
booklet together with a summary report of all apprehension, before issuance
of the new Traffic Citation Tickets booklet.
e. Surrender to the issuing agency used Traffic Citation Ticket booklet together
with a summary report of all apprehensions, before issuance of new Traffic
Citation Ticket booklet.

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f. Surrender to the appropriate issuing agency used Traffic Citation Ticket

booklet and/or identification card upon request of the issuing agency or
renewal, termination, and revocation of deputation.

“Life without discipline is life without a purpose.”

TOPIC LINK FOR VIDEO

Philippine Traffic Laws - What's

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lIU23Va_XTo
Legal & Not

KINDS OF TRAFFIC
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTk4sbdim2g
ENFORCEMENT ACTION

Proper Procedure of Citing Traffic

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjRy0StO5BA
Violation Motoring Forum

References:
Traffic management and accident investigation.
Deliso, Darlito Bernard 2014

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