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Confiscation of driver’s licenses of traffic violators will stop for now as a single ticketing system in the metropolis is being finalized, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority says
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Mayors of 17 Metro Manila cities have agreed to the moratorium as the MMDA, along with the LTO, are finalizing the integration of the single ticketing system
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Traffic violators, however, are warned that while their licenses won’t be confiscated, their names will be turned over to LTO for proper action
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Even so, MMDA acting chairman Romando Artes says LGUs can still confiscate traffic violators’ licenses under existing ordinances pending the passage of a new ordinance on the no-seizure policy
Metro Manila mayors have agreed to impose a moratorium on the confiscation of driver’s licenses of traffic violators while the proposed single ticketing system in the metropolis is being finalized, according to the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA).
MMDA acting chairman Romando Artes said in a statement that the Metro Manila Council (MMC), the governing and policy-making body of MMDA comprising the Metro Manila mayors, heeded the suggestion of Interior and Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos to suspend the seizure of driver’s licenses.
Traffic violators, however, will not go scot-free. They will still be apprehended and their names listed down by the authorities for turnover to the Land Transportation Office during the moratorium period, Abalos said.
“I thank the Metro Manila mayors for heeding to my appeal. I would also like to reiterate that we maintain the authority of the LTO to confiscate driver’s licenses as the leading law enforcement agency in implementing traffic laws and the safety of the motoring public,” Abalos said.
Artes said no driver’s license will be confiscated while the LTO is working on the interconnectivity of local government units’ (LGU) databases for the single ticketing system, which is targeted for implementation in the first quarter of 2023.
“Every LGU in NCR will pass an ordinance on this matter. For now, the existing ordinance/traffic laws of each LGU shall prevail,” Artes noted. Pending the passage of the new ordinance, LGUs can continue seizing the driver’s licenses of erring motorists under existing local ordinances or traffic laws.
For his part, LTO chief Jay Art Tugade said the agency has laid down the technical requirements for the MMDA and LGUs authorized to issue traffic violation tickets to tag and record traffic violations.
“Once the single ticketing system is finalized, the LTO will strictly implement its demerit point system to be able to properly monitor driver’s license records. Licenses should only be issued to deserving and qualified drivers,” Tugade noted.
MMDA, along with the LTO and 17 LGUs in Metro Manila, are still finalizing the integration of the single ticketing system.
Under the system, it will be easier and convenient for traffic violators in the metropolis to settle the penalties through Bayad Centers.
“We are finalizing the guidelines for the single ticketing system which includes the establishment of traffic adjudication court per LGU, incontestability of traffic violations, among others,” Artes said.
