Driving in the MNL

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Oct 22, 2003
I had another experience weird experience last night while driving along Epifanio De Los Santos Avenue (EDSA) so I just thought I'd share and gather the thoughts of fellow NTers. 
Right before the underpass (EDSA Central), there are a bunch of blue boys (MMDA - Metro Manila Development Authority - "traffic enforcers") that are waiting to extort you. 

Last night, as I was driving northbound on EDSA with a cousin of mine in the car, I was approaching this section of EDSA, I signaled to switch lanes from the middle-lane (which was going to take me to the underpass) to the right-most lane for cars because I wanted to take a right on Shaw. 

As far as I remember, I was switching lanes before it became a solid white line. I did not do so before then because it was the yellow lane and I feared that the MMDA guys would apprehend me for "driving in the yellow lane." 

After I changed lanes and I approached EDSA Central, this blue boy started walking to the middle of the road for no apparent reason (and of course, I did not know exactly what he was doing since I know I did not do anything wrong). My cousin and I thought he was trying to stop the guy who was jaywalking from EDSA Central, right to the divider between the underpass and the upper lane. 
Then all of a MMDA guy kinda jumps right beside my car, and I was going "does he have a death wish?" It was then that my cousin realized the he was trying to stop us...

It was a bit too late for him, since we were already past...

I'm not sure if he got my license plate no. or whatnot, but geez....
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I know I did not do anything wrong, and I just know he was trying to extort money from us, since it was already 7 p.m. and my cousin went "he just wants money for dinner..."
 
sir usually for your case, they would say it would be a swerving violation, its good you didn't stop.
i had the same encounter before but i was going southbound.
 
Originally Posted by chichoi

sir usually for your case, they would say it would be a swerving violation, its good you didn't stop.
i had the same encounter before but i was going southbound.

That's the thing though, isn't it? I don't get how it can be swerving, because of the following points: 
1. I switched lanes, slowly and deliberately, with care, and I used SIGNAL LIGHTS. 

2. I switched from one lane to the next, and I did not cross two lanes to do so. 

3. Had I switched maybe 10 seconds earlier, they would have stopped me anyway because "I was in the yellow lane"...or any other bull that they can come up with. 

I'm so tempted to just drive down there again and see where I "went wrong." LOL. 
 
One thing i have learned since i begun driving.

DON'T EVER GET CAUGHT IN MAKATI.
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One time I practically begged  for my license. Dudes just too loyal and professional.

And the other cost me a bucket meal.

In MNL....merienda lang
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There is an exact same mmda cash cow trap at edsa southbound before the ayala tunnel, where you have to take a right going to makati central business district. same modus, if you take the inner right lanes a little early after the buendia mrt station and those bus lanes thereafter, mmda spring out of nowhere to apprehend you. Thing is, there's only one measly lane given for private vehicles and it's at the extreme left, beneficial for those going to the fort thru mckinley, if you're going right to ayala avenue, you'll have to do battle with buses going straight thru to the bus lanes in front of sm makati. Good thing you didn't run over the cop or you'll be in a heap of trouble my friend, ingat na lang lagi.
 
Just to sum up all of your anecdotes here's the sad part:

OUR OWN TRAFFIC ENFORCERS DON'T EVEN UNDERSTAND THE VIOLATIONS THEY SAY YOU'RE COMMITTING.

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i dunno about the rules but a sneaky officer hiding in the corner near feu manila stopped us for beating the red light, even though yellow was on. was it still a violation? when we passed by the same area, we saw others who got caught too. hanap-buhay?
 
international traffic law:
green = go
yellow = slow down and stop
red = full stop

Filipino culture:
green = go
yellow = step on the gas
red = step harder on the gas
SMH
 
But when you've already crossed when it turned yellow, you have no choice but to go through.

Not unless they want you to stop in the middle of the road.
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May time delay naman bago mag green yung kabila.
 
Originally Posted by jau014

international traffic law:
green = go
yellow = slow down and stop
red = full stop

Filipino culture:
green = go
yellow = step on the gas
red = step harder on the gas
SMH
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Originally Posted by jason16

One thing i have learned since i begun driving.

DON'T EVER GET CAUGHT IN MAKATI.
laugh.gif


One time I practically begged  for my license. Dudes just too loyal and professional.

And the other cost me a bucket meal.

In MNL....merienda lang
wink.gif

gonna share mine here, I got caught in makati in front of the Fire Station somewhere in the Zuelig loop.. It was around 2am in the morning and the fire station was kinda dark, I made a U-Turn on a no U-Turn slot and then suddenly everything was bright and yellow boys popped out of nowhere in front of the fire station.. The guy that stopped me just came out of the shadow as I pass by the location and went in front of my car as I U-Turn.. luckily they did accept 100 bucks for the let go, I even saw them drinking I guess on a bench in front of the station.. it sux..

another incident is after going to MOA and heading back to work, I got caught again turning right towards buendia when I'm not in the rightmost lane, they said my violation is reckless driving but I thought that was just swerving and then 2 Orange Boys ganged up on me, I talked to them in English and laughing myself out deep inside because of their response.. I hide all the money that I have from my wallet in the car's compartment before giving them my license.. then told them that I'm in a hurry and I'm late from work, told them that I just have my credit card and ATM.. but they don't want to let me go unless I give them something.. So what happened is.. "They escorted me to a BPI atm in buendia w/ matching wang wang ala VIP" one in front of me and the other one on the back.. I'm afraid to take video of them from my car using my CP but I'm laughing myself out to what happened.. Gave them 100 bucks because their asking for 200 which I agreed because they told me that my fine should be Php 1,000 but upon seeing the ticket its just for 500.. told them to take it or just simply take my license away.. ahahahah lolz and they did..
 
you talked to them in english? if i were the officer, i would kinda think you had more than P100 with you. but good thing, it worked for you.
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Yup! True. If you're caught doing traffic violations in Makati, standard would be 500 and lowballing could reach 200. (Same in Katipunan before, when they had the old stoplight in Loyola Heights cor. C.P. Garcia). In Manila, yup, 100 pesos is the standard and some would give in for 20 pesos (Had the same Rightmost lane violation on my way home from MOA). In EDSA, that infamous swerving and on the yellow lane violation/s, I always have to act upset or be full of rage so I could get away without reaching for my wallet (before, the this is not my car...I'm just a student and I have no money works, not anymore...hahahaha). The worst I had was along North Avenue, when Trinoma had just opened. Took a turn in a No U-Turn slot but I made sure that someone did it first and then I just followed ('coz you have to drive halfway of North Avenue before you can take a U-Turn and heavy traffic during rush hour so it'll take me forever) well, again, same ol' story....Out of the shadow appears 3 traffic enforcers. He never stopped the first car for the violation so I had enough reason not to pay money in exchange. (I know they're gonna ask more 'coz that was a Payday Friday..hehehehe). He keeps on insisting that I made a violation, and insisted him that why am I the only one caught when a dozen cars did it. Well, it ended up me being furious and threatening him to be reported to MMDA for his behavior (told him I have an Uncle and mentioned his name, the name's legit as it was an employee and legal consultant, the "He is my Uncle" thing is a bluff) I made sure to write down his name and his assigned location. (I have to threaten him so I can get away with it). Next morning I checked, the ticket he was threatening me to pay never existed. It just shows he was in it for the money. It's a psyche game out there...hahahahahaha...Nowadays, when I make a violation, when somebody wants to stop me and about to give me a ticket, I make sure that I'm full throttle ahead....hahahahahaha....(It works only if he doesn't psyche you out by rushing in front of your car or bravely storms in the middle of the road for you to do a total stop, anything for money)...If you get caught, never give your license willingly, try to psyche him out first. Once you give in and he/she takes your license, it's either you have to pay money in exchange, regardless of the amount, or you have to pay the ticket and go through the trouble of going to Manila to claim your license.
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  • hellomarco wrote:

you talked to them in english? if i were the officer, i would kinda think you had more than P100 with you. but good thing, it worked for you.
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they can't answer me directly ahahahaha.. I'm trying to hold my laugh off.. I told them I can't understand what they were saying when they speak in Filipino.. ahahahaha it's a funny experience though ahahahhaa.. and also tell them why didn't catch the vehicle behind you, I told them that "is it because I'm driving a nice car that's why you chose to catch me instead and let go of the vehicle behind me" ahahaha also try to act agitated and in a hurry.

but sadly the my 1st time cost me 500 bucks from a bunch of MMDA's (around 6 swarmed in front of me) along EDSA I was so terrified and twas my 1st time that's why I gave them that amount.. They told me.. "paano ba yan eh madami kami.." after that I've learned my lesson ahahahah..
 
The best way not to get caught or being chased by a policeman or an MMDA, even if you commit any violation, is to get a "PNP" plate number..
 
Originally Posted by efsfanatic

Originally Posted by jason16

One thing i have learned since i begun driving.

DON'T EVER GET CAUGHT IN MAKATI.
laugh.gif


One time I practically begged  for my license. Dudes just too loyal and professional.

And the other cost me a bucket meal.

In MNL....merienda lang
wink.gif

gonna share mine here, I got caught in makati in front of the Fire Station somewhere in the Zuelig loop.. It was around 2am in the morning and the fire station was kinda dark, I made a U-Turn on a no U-Turn slot and then suddenly everything was bright and yellow boys popped out of nowhere in front of the fire station.. The guy that stopped me just came out of the shadow as I pass by the location and went in front of my car as I U-Turn.. luckily they did accept 100 bucks for the let go, I even saw them drinking I guess on a bench in front of the station.. it sux..

another incident is after going to MOA and heading back to work, I got caught again turning right towards buendia when I'm not in the rightmost lane, they said my violation is reckless driving but I thought that was just swerving and then 2 Orange Boys ganged up on me, I talked to them in English and laughing myself out deep inside because of their response.. I hide all the money that I have from my wallet in the car's compartment before giving them my license.. then told them that I'm in a hurry and I'm late from work, told them that I just have my credit card and ATM.. but they don't want to let me go unless I give them something.. So what happened is.. "They escorted me to a BPI atm in buendia w/ matching wang wang ala VIP" one in front of me and the other one on the back.. I'm afraid to take video of them from my car using my CP but I'm laughing myself out to what happened.. Gave them 100 bucks because their asking for 200 which I agreed because they told me that my fine should be Php 1,000 but upon seeing the ticket its just for 500.. told them to take it or just simply take my license away.. ahahahah lolz and they did..
Dude, that's quite an experience. They actually escorted you to an ATM?? You should have gotten their names and charge them with kidnapping you for ransom or something, because technically they kidnapped you and forced you to go to an ATM...goodness me.

I can pull of a North American accent anytime (it is my normal English to begin with). But heck, I want to see someone pull of a Groundskeeper Willie accent on them pieces of cow methane (LOL)...I would love to see the expression on their faces!
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The best way not to get caught or being chased by a policeman or an MMDA, even if you commit any violation, is to get a "PNP" plate number..
laugh.gif
at people feeling 'astig' or 'siga' if they have commemorative government plates.

Best way not to get caught is to not make any violation.

I follow road rules even if I drive our Escape with red plates.  
 
^will have to agree those PNP plate dont mean @#$  if you still get caught.

Got mine complete with papers and stickers.
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Originally Posted by Gameover2


The best way not to get caught or being chased by a policeman or an MMDA, even if you commit any violation, is to get a "PNP" plate number..
laugh.gif
at people feeling 'astig' or 'siga' if they have commemorative government plates.

Best way not to get caught is to not make any violation.

I follow road rules even if I drive our Escape with red plates.  
I completely agree sir gameover, but wouldn't you agree that sometimes, even though you try your best to follow traffic laws to the book (heck I even try my darnedest not cut a solid white line as much as possible), some (I mean not to generalize) traffic so-called "enforcers" stop you anyway? I think the example I gave for my first post was a good example...
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Originally Posted by psx0529

Originally Posted by Gameover2


The best way not to get caught or being chased by a policeman or an MMDA, even if you commit any violation, is to get a "PNP" plate number..
laugh.gif
at people feeling 'astig' or 'siga' if they have commemorative government plates.

Best way not to get caught is to not make any violation.

I follow road rules even if I drive our Escape with red plates.  
I completely agree sir gameover, but wouldn't you agree that sometimes, even though you try your best to follow traffic laws to the book (heck I even try my darnedest not cut a solid white line as much as possible), some (I mean not to generalize) traffic so-called "enforcers" stop you anyway? I think the example I gave for my first post was a good example...
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 Yo Dre, most traffic enforcers are indeed a-holes, but let's not give then any ammo to use against us also. I mean, better take the longer route than the short but otherwise deadly one. You know these people are always on the lookout to bait motorists. Word to 'To Catch a Predator.'
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