• CHERYL G. CRUZ
The no-confiscation of driver’s license of motorists involved in traffic violations will take effect on Jan. 26, the Land Transportation Office said Jan. 13.
Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez, in a memorandum Jan. 9, ordered the LTO to suspend the long-standing practice of confiscating the licenses of apprehended drivers.
Section 6 of the memorandum states that the no-confiscation policy takes effect 15 days from the issuance, meaning it covers traffic apprehensions made on or after Jan. 26, the LTO said in a post.
Instead of confiscation, the driver’s license of a motorist with unsettled violations will be placed under alarm status in the LTO’s system, and details of the alleged violation will be indicated on the Temporary Operator’s Permit (TOP) and immediately recorded in the LTO database, it added.
Lopez had said the policy aims to streamline and clarify procedures in apprehending erring motorists, whose driver’s licenses have been confiscated.
He also amended the guidelines for settling traffic apprehension cases by changing the lead time from 15 calendar days to 15 working days, “to afford both the government and the public sufficient time to resolve cases.”
Failure to settle within the prescribed period will automatically trigger a 30-day suspension or revocation of the driver’s license, without prejudice to the payment of fines and penalties, the LTO said.
“Motorists are reminded that although licenses (will) no longer (be) confiscated on the spot, prompt payment and settlement of violations remain mandatory,” it stressed. “The new policy removes roadside license confiscation but strengthens accountability, through digital tracking and stricter consequences for non-compliance.” | CGC
