LTO summons SUV owner, driver with 307 traffic violations

The Land Transportation Office (LTO) has issued a show cause order against the owner and driver of the sports utility vehicle (SUV) allegedly involved in illegally using the Epifanio delos Santos Avenue (Edsa) Busway 307 times since 2022.— Inquirer file photo

MANILA, Philippines — The Land Transportation Office (LTO) has issued a show cause order against the owner and driver of the sports utility vehicle (SUV) allegedly involved in illegally using the Epifanio delos Santos Avenue (Edsa) Busway 307 times since 2022.

In a statement on Tuesday, LTO chief assistant secretary Vigor Mendoza II said they had already summoned the registered owner of the Montero Sport—who is a resident of Quezon City—to explain “why they should not be penalized for various offenses, including multiple disregard of traffic signs and obstruction of traffic for the driver.”

READ: MMDA: Driver caught 309 times for same traffic violation in 10 months

He said the show cause order served as the LTO’s response to the request for assistance of Manila Development Authority Chairman Don Artes “to look into the case of this repeat offender in the exclusive bus lane along Edsa.”

“We already identified the registered owner and our investigation will also find out who has been driving this vehicle during the 307 times it illegally entered the Edsa Busway,” Mendoza added.

Based on the letter to the LTO, Artes said that out of the 307 violations of the SUV, 14 offenses were tagged by CCTV cameras since the reimplementation of the No-Contact Apprehension Policy on May 26 this year.

READ: MMDA mulls ‘service’ in lieu of fines

“During the verification, it was found out that the Mitsubishi Montero involved was last registered in August 2022,” the LTO reported.

Meanwhile, the show cause order signed by LTO-Intelligence and Investigation Division chief Renante Melitante likewise stated that the registered owner of the SUV was directed to bring with her the driver and submit a written explanation regarding the incident.

The LTO said the driver was facing a violation of being an Improper Person to Operate a Motor Vehicle under Section 27 (a) of R.A. 4136.

The registered owner, meanwhile, is currently facing a case of violation of the Compulsory Registration of Motor Vehicles (Section 5 of RA4136).

The show cause order also stated that while the investigation is ongoing, “the Mitsubishi Montero will be temporarily placed under alarm, preventing any and all transactions.”

“Failure to appear and submit the written comments/explanations as required shall be construed by this Office as a waiver of your rights to be heard, and the case shall be decided based on the evidence at hand,” the order read./coa