Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez has ordered the Land Transportation Office to suspend the practice of confiscating drivers’ licenses for apprehended motorists, as well as to extend the period given to settle traffic violation cases.
According to a DOTr memorandum order dated January 9, drivers’ licenses shall not be confiscated upon apprehension but will instead be placed under alert.
“While the confiscation of drivers’ licenses is suspended, the LTO is directed to immediately place the violator’s license under alert and strictly enforce the automatic suspension or revocation of the license should the driver fail to settle the case within 15 working days,” the DOTr said in a statement.
It is notable that the DOTr changed the lead time from 15 calendar days to 15 working days, as it intends “to afford both the government and the public sufficient time to resolve cases.”
The agency noted that the memorandum order will take effect immediately.
The LTO’s practice of confiscating drivers’ licenses of apprehended motorists has been an inconvenience that Filipinos have accepted as part of the system for as long as we can remember. Without a driver’s license, those who have been slapped with traffic violations have to find the ways and means to go all the way to the LTO office to settle their case, preferably within the timeframe given by the agency.
This tweak by the DOTr secretary should be helpful to the country’s drivers, as it allows them to drive to the LTO to settle their case, with the added advantage of being given 15 working days instead of 15 calendar days, which could be a bit difficult in a government that is fond of declaring extra holidays or suspends work when the weather forecast is not ideal.
Hopefully the DOTr and the LTO continue to evaluate the benefits of the memorandum order, along with considering other suggestions as they find better ways to conduct their business that affects so many in this country.*
