The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) announced Monday that they have confiscated 148 illegal blinkers and sirens used by civilians, six days after President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III ordered authorities to enforce its ban.

NCRPO Director Roberto Rosales said that the police would continue to enforce the ban on illegal sirens among private vehicles under a directive issued last week by PNP Director General Jesus Versoza.

Rosales also said that all districts commanders were instructed to continue their operations on the confiscation of blaring sirens used by motorists.

He also came out with a warning among motorists that aside from the sirens, the police will confiscate illegal use of fog lamps, especially if they are being used in situations that could endanger the lives of other drivers.

The NCRPO chief said that fog lamps can only be used during heavy rains or in other situations needed.

Rosales also reminded car owners bearing commemorative plates to place it above their license plate because they should not be used as substitutes to the one issued by the Land Transportation Office (LTO).

He said that those arrested will be given a traffic violation.

This developed as the Eastern Police District's (EPD's) campaign against the use of sirens and blinkers in the eastern portion of the metropolis is gaining ground with the confiscation of a siren from a motorcycle owner during a checkpoint in San Juan City Sunday night, police said.

Reports reaching the EPD headquarters in Pasig City said the motorcycle's owner, Julius Cesar Simon of Cainta, Rizal, was stopped by policemen at a checkpoint along Aurora Boulevard corner J. Ruiz Street in San Juan City at about 11 p.m. Sunday for using a 6 tone horn which was placed at his Honda motorcycle XRM 110CC with plate number BI-4515.

Police said Simon, who was sent home afterwards, was advise by police not use any more siren or blinkers in his motorcycle after a crackdown on the use of such devices has been issued by the leadership of the Philippine National Police (PNP).

The confiscated siren was immediately taken to the San Juan City Police Station for proper disposition.

Chief Supt. Francisco Soria Manalo, the EPD's district director, earlier said they are stepping up the campaign against the use of sirens and blinkers following the order from Director General Jesus Versoza, PNP chief, for the police to enforce a crackdown on it after President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III during his inaugural speech expressed his displeasure on the abuse of the use of sirens and blinkers.

The ban on sirens and blinkers, it was recalled, is stated under Presidential Decree 96 which is titled “Declaring Unlawful the Use or Attachment of Sirens, Bells, Horns, Whistles, or Similar Gadgets that Emit Exceptionally Loud or Startling Sounds, including Domelights and other Signaling or Flashing Devices on Motor Vehicles and providing certain exceptions.”

It was issued in January, 1973, with the penalty of confiscation of the gadgets on the first offense and a fine of P15,000 on the second offense.

Other laws prohibiting the use of the sirens and blinkers are Republic Act 4136 titled “An Act to Complete the Laws Relative to Land Transportation and Traffic Rules, to Create a Land Transportation Commission and for other Purposes,” and Administrative Order 122 issued in 2005, which reiterates the strict implementation of PD 96.

Article 4 Section 34 of RA 4136, on the other hand, reads: “All authorized emergency vehicles, such as ambulances and police cars and fire wagons used for emergency calls, shall be equipped with a bell, siren, or exhaust whistle of a type approved by the Commissioner, and no such device shall be installed or used in any other vehicle.”