The Supreme Court has dismissed consolidated petitions challenging the No Contact Apprehension Program, ruling that the issues have become moot after Metro Manila adopted a uniform traffic enforcement framework.
The court's decision, penned by Associate Justice Rodil V. Zalameda, dismissed petitions filed by several groups questioning ordinances implementing the NCAP in Manila, Muntinlupa, Parañaque, Quezon City, and Valenzuela.
The petitioners argued that the NCAP was inconsistent with the Land Transportation and Traffic Code because it places liability on registered vehicle owners instead of the actual driver and does not require face-to-face apprehension.
The petitioners also claimed that the program violated due process by allowing penalties to accumulate before motorists receive notice of violations.
The Supreme Court said that those issues have been overtaken by the Metro Manila Traffic Code of 2023, which established a uniform framework for traffic regulation and NCAP implementation.
The court noted that the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority later issued Memorandum Circular No. 10, series of 2025, to implement the code, which was subsequently adopted through new ordinances.
The Supreme Court said that its dismissal of the petitions is confined to the determination that the petitioners failed to overcome threshold issues, and that the supervening adoption of a uniform regulatory framework has rendered the petitions moot.
The court also lifted the temporary restraining order issued in August 2022 against the implementation of the challenged NCAP ordinances.
The Supreme Court said that the dismissal does not bar future challenges should the revised NCAP framework later give rise to an actual controversy.
