A welcome move
THE Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has issued a memorandum, reminding traffic enforcers that only the Land Transportation Office (LTO) may confiscate a driver’s license.
Reports said the DILG addressed the memorandum to traffic enforcers of the country’s local government units (LGUs) and the Philippine National Police (PNP).
Described by various quarters as “a welcome move,” the memorandum is in accordance with a decision of the Supreme Court (SC) based on provisions of Republic Act No. 10930, according to the LTO.
The LTO, which is under the Department of Transportation (DoTr), is the leading law enforcement agency in implementing traffic laws and ensuring the safety of the motoring public.
Specifically, it is tasked to register motor vehicles, issue licenses to drivers/conductors, enforce transportation laws, rules and regulations, and adjudicate apprehension cases.
Some motorists and even the riding public really find it hard to understand why there are traffic enforcers who confiscate the licenses of erring drivers although they are not deputized by the LTO.
And to think that LGUs and police traffic enforcers are only authorized to issue traffic citation tickets to erring drivers.
“Ang deputized agents lamang (ng LTO) ang may mandato ng batas na magkumpiska ng mga lisensya ng mga lumalabag sa mga batas trapiko na motorista,” said the LTO in a statement.
Hopefully, concerned government authorities hit hard at traffic enforcers who confiscate the licenses of erring drivers although they are not deputized by the agency.
