Child car seats law: LTO says no apprehension within 6 months

MANILA, Philippines — Within six months, authorities will not apprehend or issue tickets against drivers who will fail to comply with the Republic Act No. 11229 or the Child Safety In Motor Vehicles Act, the Land Transportation Office (LTO) said Tuesday.

In an interview with ABS-CBN Teleradyo, Lawyer Roberto Valera, deputy director of LTO Law Enforcement, said they will first educate drivers and parents on the law, which requires the use of car seats for children aged 12 years old and below.

“Actually, naka-prepare na po ang aming protocols para sa inspection pati enforcement. Hindi po kami manghuhuli within 6 months, huwag kayong mag-alala. I-eeducate namin kayo. Inaayos namin yung inspection protocols. Ieeducate namin mga parents, mga drivers tungkol sa batas na ito,” Valera said when asked about parents’ queries on apprehension upon the implementation of RA No. 11229.

(We prepared protocols for inspection as well as enforcement. We will not apprehend anyone within six months, don’t worry. We will educate parents and drivers about this law.)

Valera also pointed out that enforcers will distribute flyers to inform motorists about the requirements of the law. He added that they will only warn drivers regarding the law.

“Base sa consultasyon, inadvisean kami ng palugit for six months. Tinatawag na soft approach, dahil mamimigay kami ng flyers. Education campaign muna tapos warning,” he said.

(Based on our consultation, we were advised to give a soft approach for six months. We call it a soft approach because we will give away flyers. Education campaign first then warning.)

“Sa LTO po, yung warning, iyan sa isang enforcement tool namin. Kaya soft approach, kasi hindi pa kami nagtiticket pero sa Republic Act 11229 pinapayagan kami ng warning,” Valera added.

(Warning is an enforcement tool for LTO. We will take a soft approach because we will not issue tickets but under the law we can warn motorists.)

After six months, Valera said the enforcers will start to issue Temporary Operator’s Permit and show cause orders against violators of RA 11229.

The law, which took effect this Tuesday, bans children aged below 13 years old from occupying a car’s front seat.

It was crafted and enforced to prevent injuries and deaths of children in an accident.

Recently, LTO Director Clarence Guinto apologized for his “inappropriate” comment, suggesting families with tall children better use bigger cars to comply with RA 11229, which was supposed to take effect February 2.

EDV