Single ticket scheme to use demerit system for driver’s license validity period

FILE PHOTO: MMDA traffic enforcers in action. INQUIRER/GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE

MANILA, Philippines — The proposed unified ticketing system in Metro Manila will establish a demerit scheme where traffic violations of motorists will be recorded in a central database which the Land Transportation Office (LTO) will use to determine the validity period of a driver’s license.

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) made this explanation on Monday, during the Laging Handa Public Briefing, as mayors in the country’s capital region agreed to suspend the confiscation of the driver’s licenses of traffic violators until the LTO finalizes rules on its proposed single ticketing system.

“Gusto po ng LTO na siguraduhin na lahat ng nagmamaneho po sa ating kalsada ay worthy or qualified. Sa loob ng single ticketing system, pwede na nilang ma-track lahat ng paglabag ng isang driver — bawat paglabag may corresponding demerit points depende po sa traffic violation,” MMDA spokesperson Melissa Carunungan said.

(The LTO wants to make sure that all motorists on the road are worthy or qualified. Under the single ticketing system, they can track all the violations of a driver — where each infraction has a corresponding demerit point depending on the traffic violation.)

READ: Metro Manila mayors OK single ticket system

“Ang lahat ng demerits ng isang driver ay makikita po sa sistema ng LTO, at maapektuhan po ang period ng validity ng lisensya nila upon renewal,” she added.

(All demerits of a driver will be seen in the LTO system, which would affect the period of validity of their licenses upon renewal.)

Currently, government regulators grant qualified drivers licenses with up to 10 years validity.

Carunungan also explained each traffic violation will have corresponding demerit points depending on the severity of the offense. Once a motorist accumulates 10 demerit points, any traffic officer — whether from the MMDA, the local government units (LGUs) in Metro Manila, or the LTO — can confiscate his or her driver’s license.

“So halimbawa po, ‘pag nahuli po kayo dahil sa disregarding traffic sign, ‘yan po ay magdudulot ng isang demerit point. ’Pag nahuli naman po kayo sa driving without a license, magdudulot po ‘yon ng five demerit points,” she noted.

(So, for example, if you are caught disregarding a traffic sign, that would correspond to one demerit point. If you are caught driving without a license, that would cause you five demerit points.)

“So dahil po sa interconnection with the LTO, ‘pag nakita ng traffic enforcer na nakakuha ka ng 10 demerit points, authorized na po sila mangumpiska ng lisensya mo,” she added.

(Because of the interconnection with the LTO, if a traffic enforcer sees that you have earned 10 demerit points, they are authorized to confiscate your driver’s license.)

On Saturday, Metro Manila mayors agreed to suspend confiscation of driver’s licenses despite traffic violations due to the forthcoming unified ticketing system, which, according to Carunungan, may start within the first quarter of 2023.

During the Metro Manila Council meeting, the mayors also agreed in principle to interconnect their databases to that of the LTO’s, so that the latter can view the violations of motorists.

For now, Carunungan said, traffic enforcers will still issue tickets that LGUs will list down and send to the LTO.

“’Pag naglabag po kayo sa batas trapiko kailangan ninyong i-settle sa mga corresponding issuing agency. Sa ngayon, may moratorium tayo sa pangungumpiksa ng lisensya pero ililista ng LGUs ang lahat ng nahuli at ibibigay po ito sa LTO – ito ay ire-record sa sistema ng LTO,” she said.

(If you violate traffic laws, you need to settle it with the corresponding issuing agency. For now, there is a moratorium on license confiscation but the LGU will list down all violators and send it to LTO – this will be recorded in the system of LTO.)

“Magta-tap po ang LTO ng mga payment centers online para may access pa rin kayo magbayad online kahit umalis na po kayo sa lugar. Ang revenue naman nito ay pupunta pa rin sa corresponding issuing agency,” she added.

(LTO will tap payment centers online so violators can still settle their fines online even if they have already left the area where they were flagged down. Anyway, the revenue from these fines will still go to the corresponding issuing agency.)

KGA