THE number of Helmet Law violators accosted and issued traffic citation tickets by the Philippine National Police Highway Patrol Group since last September 19 rose to more than 16,000 yesterday with more apprehensions expected as the PNP-HPG continues the strict implementation of the law.

PNP-HPG director Chief Superintendent Leonardo A. Espina said that nearly 16,500 violators of the Helmet Law, including 13 policemen, six members of the Armed Forces, two from the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology and one each from the Land Transportation Office and a local government unit, have been apprehended since last September 19, the day PNP chief Director General Nicanor A. Bartolome ordered the strict enforcement of the ‘no-helmet, no-travel’ policy nationwide.

Espina said the strict implementation of the ‘no-plate, no-travel’ policy across the country has also resulted in the interception of 5,983 civilians over the past four months.

Different PNP territorial units have also turned over to the HPG 17 stolen motor vehicles and 39 motorcycles they have recovered during the period in compliance with Gen. Bartolome’s strict instruction for all police units to immediately turn over recovered stolen motor vehicles to the PNP-HPG or face administrative investigation.

Espina also warned motorists who persist on using the banned sirens and blinkers on their vehicles to remove their gadgets immediately or be accosted by his men right even in the confines of their homes.

Early this month, a tip from a concerned citizen led agents of the National Capital Region Highway Patrol Unit headed by Senior Supt. Felixberto Castillo to an Indian ‘money-lender’ found to be using a banned siren in his car.

Espina said Joginder Singh, a resident of Block 8, Lot 13 Faith Street in Tierra Evelina, Quezon City voluntarily surrendered his unauthorized gadgets to the NCRHPU.

Singh was accosted shortly after a concerned citizen sent a text message to the PNP Text 2920. The message read: “Gdpm kotse  xnv-113silver may bosena wangwang po yan. Akala ko mobile ng police or ambulance ung nagwang-wang na nakasunod sa amin. ’Yun ay bawal po. 4:20 p.m. mon, 2 Jan. 2010 at tomas morato st corner kamuning avenue stoplight. Tnx.’

Espina said that NCRHPU operatives found out that the plate no. XNV-113 is issued to a car registered under the name of Joginder.

He said that the NCRHPU agents went to Joginder’s place where they were told by the current tenant named Sarjeet Singh hat he had left the house since last November.

However, Sarjeet fully cooperated with the HPG personnel in locating Joginder with the help of their common friends until finally, the ‘wang-wang’ user was located on Wednesday last week.

Joginder was issued a citation ticket shortly after he surrendered his siren.

He became the latest foreigner to be accosted by the PNP-HPG for violating the ban on the use of sirens, blinkers and other unauthorized vehicle gadgets ordered by President Benigno C. Aquino III shortly after he assumed the presidency on June 2010.

Gen. Bartolome also asked the public to immediately report to PNP Text 2920 all motorists using sirens and blinkers and worst, going up against the flow of traffic for immediate action.

The PNP chief  said they need the full cooperation of the citizenry in apprehending these abusive drivers and vowed to spare no one in the crackdown, whether they are politicians or members of the uniformed service.

The PNP chief has ordered a massive nationwide crackdown against unauthorized users of sirens and blinkers under Presidential Decree 96 which was enacted in January 1973 to prevent the unlawful use or attachment of sirens, bells, horns, whistles or similar gadgets that emit exceptionally loud or startling sounds, including dome lights and other signaling or flashing devices on motor vehicles and providing certain exceptions therefore.