Motorists who are caught using the bus-exclusive EDSA carousel lane without any authorization – whether they’re public or private – will face larger fines starting November 13, the MMDA announced today (November 6).

First offenders of the new system will now be fined Php 5,000, and every succeeding breach will carry a harsher penalty, with the fourth violation earning a revocation request for the repeat offender’s driver’s license. In comparison, the MMDA currently imposes a Php 1,000 fine for each offense. 

Here are the revised fines under MMDA Regulation No. 23-002, which was approved by the Metro Manila Council:

• First Offense – Php 5,000
• Second Offense – Php 10,000 plus one-month suspension of driver’s license, and required to undergo a road safety seminar
• Third Offense – Php 20,000 plus one-year suspension of driver’s license.
• Fourth Offense – Php 30,000 plus recommendation to Land Transportation Office (LTO) for revocation of driver’s license.

In addition to being penalized, EDSA bus lane violators will also be reported to the LTO and have their penalties attached to the owners of the vehicle they were using, according to MMDA Acting Chairman Atty. Don Artes.

The penalty increase “is for the safety of motorists and undisrupted travel of authorized city buses plying in the exclusive lane,” Artes explained in his agency’s announcement.