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Wisdom > Spoiler

How we treat motoring rules clearly favors the rich

Because the law is only able to make the poor toe the line

Our fines and penalties for motoring violations are loose change to the wealthy. PHOTO FROM PIXABAY

If there is a country in the world where the disparity between the rich and the poor is most obvious, the Philippines would definitely be in the running for the top spot. I mean, where else will you find laws with price tags?

Smuggling of cars? Check.

Misdeclaration of vehicle taxes? Check.

Fake driver’s license? Check.

Expired car registration? Check.

Mismatched license plates? Check.

Violation of number-coding? Check.

From top to bottom, rules have a price and everything has a loophole.

A P1,000 penalty for illegal parking at malls is nothing to owners of these SUVs. PHOTO BY ANDY LEUTERIO

Last night, our colleague submitted the above photo taken at Resorts World. It shows a Toyota FJ Cruiser and a Ford Everest smugly parked at an EV section of the car park. As you know, both cars have internal-combustion engines, which means they can’t park in spaces reserved for electric vehicles.

Our associate was so indignant that he actually reported the situation to a security guard, who told him that each car would be fined with the establishment’s penalty for illegal parking—which was P1,000.

Barya lang for these guys,” our colleague could only lament.

Indeed, there are so many things in this country that favor the wealthy. As a reader commented: “It’s only illegal to the poor.”

Sort of like buying multiple cars to dodge the number-coding scheme.

Of course you’ll follow the law if you’re poor and the fine will hurt you financially. PHOTO FROM PIXABAY

Think hard about this. Philippine rules are designed to give the affluent a huge advantage. Fines and penalties are a pain to the destitute but laughably small to the well-off. I suggest to make these monetary punishments proportional to one’s salary. What an illegal-parking violation costs a regular office employee P1,000 should cost a moneyed businessman P10,000. That should level the field.

I have no idea if that is possible here, but I know that income-based penalties are a thing. Sure, I’m just dreaming. Then again, in the Philippines, dreaming is often all you’re left with.



Vernon B. Sarne

Vernon is the founder and editor-in-chief of VISOR. He has been an automotive journalist since July 1995. He became one by serendipity, walking into the office of a small publishing company and applying for a position he had no idea was for a local car magazine. God has watched over him throughout his humble journey. He writes the ‘Spoiler’ column.



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