The five-year driver’s license

In view of these extended periods, the LTO is mandated to impose stricter rules in the issuance of driver’s licenses.

Some years back, we would have to go to the Land Transportation Office (LTO) every three years to have our licenses renewed. That was a short period. With time flying so fast, it is like you just had your license renewed, and before you knew it; you would find yourself heading to the LTO once again for the next renewal. That proved a bit cumbersome if you kept really hectic schedules. Obviously, you could not ask someone to renew your license, unless it was perfectly ok with you to see his picture (and not yours) on your license.

As I wrote two weeks ago about the Philippine passport and its validity being extended from five to 10 years, now I write about the driver’s license being extended from its usual three to now — five years. That saves us a trip to the LTO every three years. But did you know that a license can be extended even up to 10 years? I bet not everyone knows that. Even I did not, until I read the law.

Section 2 of Republic Act 10930, approved on 2 August 2017, mandates the amendment of Section 23 of Republic Act 4136 (Land Transportation and Traffic Code). The salient portion pertaining to what I mentioned reads, “Except for student permits, all drivers’ licenses shall be valid for five years reckoned from the birthdate of the licensee, unless sooner revoked or suspended; Provided, however, That subject to Section 26 hereof, any holder of a professional or nonprofessional driver’s license who has not committed any violation of RA 4136 and other traffic laws, rules and regulations during the five year period shall be entitled to a renewal of such license for 10 years, subject to the restrictions as may be imposed by the LTO.” So beginning in 2022, we will see driver’s licenses being issued with a 10-year validity. That is of course granting the applicant did not have any traffic infraction within the five-year period initially granted him prior to his present renewal. The 10-year period is a good long time for the licensee to need to visit the LTO again.

In view of these extended periods, the LTO is mandated to impose stricter rules in the issuance of driver’s licenses. “Toward this end, the conduct of theoretical and practical examinations, among others, must sufficiently measure the competency of drivers and must be designed to the type of license applied for and its corresponding restrictions. (Section 3, RA 10930). In addition to this, RA 10930 added Section 23-B to RA 4136. In a nutshell, it provides for certain acts punishable under said law, aside from criminal liability under the Revised Penal Code. These acts punishable under RA 10930 include those committed by the LTO officer and the applicant. The LTO officer will be sacked if he either knowingly or with gross negligence, issues a driver’s license to an unqualified applicant. An applicant on the other hand, who willfully misrepresents material information, connives with an LTO officer, falsifies documents or cheats in the examination can be meted a fine of P20,000. Assuming a license is granted, the driver will be suspended for two years. Any repeat will result in a lifetime ban from driving.

As you can see, even as the law may have cut us some slack on periodic trips to the LTO for renewal, it came out with much stricter measures. This puts an end to allegedly acts of misrepresentation and falsification in order to obtain or renew a license. These acts together with their corresponding penalties are clearly in black and white.