Revised traffic violation fines start today

Motorists and drivers especially in Metro Manila, beware. The Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) will implement today, June 19, the new traffic violation penalties in accordance with the Joint Administrative Order 01-2014.

The “corresponding rules and regulations for the enforcement of laws governing land transportation services, including the penalties for violations” will be jointly implemented by DOTC’s attached agencies – the Land Transportation Office (LTO) and Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) – enforcing the revised schedule of fines for specific traffic infringement like the following:

• Driving without a valid driver’s license – PHP 3,000 (from PHP 1,500) plus the offender will be disqualified from being granted a driver’s license or from driving a motor vehicle for one year from the payment of the fine
• Driving a motor vehicle used in committing a crime – PHP 10,000 (from PHP 3,000) plus the offenders drivers license will be confiscated, and if convicted, revoked with the driver being perpetually disqualified from being granted a driver’s license. The vehicle will also be impounded until after the payment of appropriate fines and penalties
• Reckless driving – PHP 2,000 (from PHP 1,000) for the first offense; PHP 3,000 (from PHP 1,500) for the second offense; and PHP 10,000 (from PHP 2,000) for the third offense. In addition, the offenders drivel’s license will be suspended for three months for the second offense and six months for the third offense, with the revocation of the license on succeeding offenses. A non-professional driver whose license has been revoked will be disqualified from obtaining a driver’s license for two years from revocation, while a professional driver whose license has been revoked will be perpetually disqualified from getting a license
• Failure to wear seatbelts – PHP 1,000 for the first offense; PHP 2,000 for the second offense; and PHP 5,000 for the third offense. PHP reviously, the fine was only PHP 250, regardless of the number of offenses. Also, the drivers license of the offender will be suspended for one week from the payment of the fine for the third and each succeeding offense. The DOTC also notes that children six years old and below are prohibited from sitting in the front passenger seat
• Failure to carry a driver, license or the vehicle, certificate of registration or official receipt wh. driving a motor vehicle – PHP 1,000 (from PHP 200 for the license and from PHP 150 for the OR or CR)
• Driving an unregistered motor vehicle – PHP 10,000 (from PHP 4,000) plus, if the non-registration has exceeded one month, the vehicle shall be impounded and released only if it has been registered and its corresponding fines and penalties have been paid. If the vehicle has an undocumented engine (a separate PHP 5,000 previously), the vehicle will be impounded and barred from operating for one year upon the payment of the fines while the engine will be confiscated by the government
• Unauthorized vehicle modification, including the change of color “and other unauthorized modifications of the standard manufacturer’s specifications” – PHP 5,000 plus the vehicle will be impounded and released only upon correction of the defect and the payment of the fine
• Operating a motor vehicle without or with defective/improper/unauthorized accessories, devices, equipment and parts – PHP 5,000 (from PHP 150 to PHP 15,000) plus the vehicle will be impounded until the accessory, device, equipment or part is properly installed, corrected or removed depending on the offense and the fine has been paid. Any improper or unauthorized device will also be confiscated in favor of the government
• All other violations of traffic rules and regulations, from parking violations to illegal turns – PHP 1,000.
• The last item also include disregarding traffic signs, failure to dim headlights, allowing passengers on top, driving against traffic, illegal overtaking, cutting an overtaken vehicle, overtaking at unsafe distance, failure to give way to overtaking vehicle, increasing speed when being overtaken, overtaking on a curve, failure to yield right of way, failure to signal, and unsafe towing.

Source : Top Gear, Inquirernet

[Editor’s comment:] Tomorrow, the roads in the Philippines will be empty  😛 

[GARD]