Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez has officially instructed the Land Transportation Office (LTO) to immediately suspend the confiscation of driver’s licenses during traffic apprehension cases.
This policy shift follows a directive from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to streamline and clarify enforcement procedures, ensuring a more efficient and fair process for the motoring public.
In a memorandum issued today, Secretary Lopez ordered the LTO to cease the physical seizure of licenses and initiated a comprehensive review of all pertinent issuances to ensure policy consistency across the board.
While licenses will no longer be confiscated on-site, the LTO is mandated to:
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Place Licenses Under Alert: Apprehended drivers will have their records flagged immediately in the LTO system.
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Enforce Automatic Penalties: Failure to settle violations within the prescribed period will trigger the automatic suspension or revocation of the driver’s license.
To further ease the burden on motorists, Secretary Lopez has amended the guidelines for settling traffic cases. The lead time for resolution has been extended from 15 calendar days to 15 working days. “Ibig sabihin po nito, hindi kasama ‘yung mga holiday at long weekend sa bilang ng araw kapag magse-settle ng violation ‘yung driver (This means holidays and long weekends are no longer included in the count when a driver settles their violation),” Secretary Lopez explained.
The extension is intended to afford both the government and the public sufficient time to resolve cases accurately without the pressure of non-working days.
The new memorandum circular takes effect immediately. The DOTr maintains that while procedures are being eased for convenience, road safety and accountability remain top priorities. Motorists are urged to settle their violations promptly to avoid the escalation of penalties and the eventual loss of driving privileges.
