Clark, Clark, Clark

I went to Clark Field, Pampanga one weekend. People and I, myself, forgot to remind me that Clark is like Subic. They are "strict" when it comes to traffic rules.

So anyway, it was actually my first time to drive inside Clark itself. I realized in my previous trips, I didn't really "enter the gates" of Clark. I was with 4 friends.

And then, whoah. Highway! Almost like those 4-lane freeways in the US (2 lanes on each side). Seeing the speed limit at 80 (and 60), I didn't think twice about this highway being like a freeway. I thought that 60 was the lower speed limit; that we can't go over 80 kph nor below 60 kph. So I went at 80 kph.

We went under what seems to be a wider highway under construction, it felt like a tunnel. Then there was a curve.

Then there were some orange things in between the lanes, and one car running ever so slowly. I passed those orange things and the slow car, and then we noticed one security-guard-looking guy apparently waving at us. Weird, we thought.

I then saw maybe a couple or three cars stopped, and saw that they stopped because of a red traffic light signal. When the light turned green, another security-guard-looking guy appeared, and this time it was clear he was stopping us. I noticed he had an orange vest that said "TRAFFIC." A traffic officer? So we stopped.

The traffic officer said (in Tagalog), "You do know what traffic violation you committed, do you?" The first thought that came to mind was overspeeding. But, no I don't think I did. So I told the officer, "No, sir." "You were beating the red light." "Did I? I didn't notice any traffic light prior to this last one." My 4 friends all agreed; they didn't notice anything.

"You were." And so my license was confiscated, and I was given a ticket. I was asked to go to the Clark CDC office to pay the fine, and get my license back, in as early as 3 hours from that time. The officer said that the office was open 24 hours.

Because I had to attend to something there at Clark, I was able to pass by the office for my license at around 1am.

The security guard there was asking me like I was up to no good, "What do you need?" (in Tagalog) I told him that I was there to get my license back. The guard reacted like as if the office was closed, as if he was a big "DO NOT DISTURB" sign. "I was told the office is open 24 hours." With that, the guard gave up not being accomodating, and went in the office with my ticket. He came back out and accompanied me in. I noticed that everybody, except for that guard, was sleeping.

I was asked to pay PhP 500 for a beating-the-red-light offense. So I did and was given my license back. I asked for a receipt. The person there said, they can't issue a receipt at that time.

Who is in charge of Clark/CDC? They just stole PhP 500 from me. And maybe they have stolen many thousands more from hundred other motorists, who cannot do anything in the presence of a dozen buff-bodied men with guns.

Two issues here:

1. Why set a maximum of 80 kph on a highway when there's a traffic light up ahead? At least put up a warning sign, 100 meters ahead, indicating that there is a traffic light up ahead. People going at 80 kph cannot also easily notice a YELLOW-colored traffic light box hanging from a cable. If it was on a pole, and the traffic light box was BLACK, it would have been easier. Maybe it didn't help that the sky was a little bit cloudy and lit with... yellow. It was early in the morning. Either they should replace the traffic lights with something more recognizeable, remove it, install warning signs at least 100 meters ahead of the intersection, OR, set the maximum speed limit at 60 kph only.

2. It is difficult that there are "traffic discipline zones" in the Philippines. Duh. Everywhere should be one big "traffic discipline zone." When you come from "traffic non-discipline zones" everyday of the year and then go into one "traffic discipline zone" for one day, it's difficult to adjust. They shouldn't be "strict" only at certain areas around this country. Traffic enforcers should be strict everywhere. The solution needs more than just "disciplining" these people who are supposed to be in charge of disciplining, or correcting these other specific traffic-related issues. A more totalitarian approach is needed.