The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has clarified the payment process for violations caught under its No Contact Apprehension Policy (NCAP), stating that there are no immediate penalties added to the initial fine stated in the Notice of Violation.

According to the MMDA, if a motorist receives a Notice of Violation for a traffic law offense captured by NCAP cameras, the only amount they are required to pay is the original fine indicated in the notice. The agency emphasized that these violations will not immediately accrue additional penalties.

“There will be no late payment penalty for violations caught by the MMDA’s No Contact Apprehension Policy. If you happen to receive a Notice of Violation for a traffic law offense, you only need to pay the amount stated,” said the MMDA’s No Physical Contact Policy Program department to Autoindustriya.com.

However, the MMDA cautioned that while late payment penalties are not imposed, unsettled NCAP violations will have implications during the vehicle or motorcycle registration renewal process at the Land Transportation Office (LTO). If the fines remain unpaid by the time of registration renewal, the violation will be flagged against the vehicle's plate number, creating a ‘hit’ that will likely need to be settled before the renewal can be completed.

“It will not incur an additional penalty, but it will reflect and your plate number will have a ‘hit’ when you renew your vehicle or motorcycle registration at the LTO if it is not settled before the registration.”

While there’s no escalating penalty for delaying payment of an NCAP violation, neglecting to settle these fines will ultimately need to be addressed during the mandatory annual vehicle registration with the LTO. Motorists who receive a Notice of Violation are still responsible for paying the initial fine to avoid potential complications, which may require a huge sum of money when it’s time to renew their vehicle’s registration.