Licenses confiscation to continue — MMDA

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority said over the weekend that drivers can still have their licenses confiscated by local government units for road infractions within their respective jurisdictions.

This, according to the MMDA, would remain the norm until Metro Manila LGUs can enact ordinances on the proposed unified ticketing system intended to rationalize and standardize traffic violation rules within the metro.

On Saturday, the Technical Working Group on the single-ticketing system held a fourth meeting.

Artes said the TWG, the MMDA, Land Transportation Office, and the 17 mayors of the Metro Manila cities are still finalizing the unified ticketing system.

"For now, the existing ordinance/traffic laws of each LGU shall prevail. Subject to the passage of an ordinance, they are allowed to continue (confiscating) the driver's licenses of erring motorists," Artes said.

The MMDA claimed the single-ticketing system, scheduled for introduction in the first quarter of 2023, will help the LTO identify drivers with multiple infractions while preventing driver's license confiscation.

LTO chief Assistant Secretary Jay Art Tugade said the LTO had set technical standards for the MMDA and local government units authorized to issue traffic violation citations to tag and record offenses.

"Once the single-ticketing system is finalized, the LTO will strictly implement its demerit point system to monitor driver's license records properly. (Drivers' licenses) should only be issued to deserving and qualified drivers," Tugade said.

In the meeting, Interior and Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos thanked the Metro Manila mayors for considering his appeal on the confiscation of the licenses of motorists.

"I would also like to reiterate that we maintain the authority of the LTO to confiscate driver's licenses as the leading law enforcement agency in implementing traffic laws and the safety of the motoring public," Abalos said.

"Once the single ticketing system is finalized, the LTO will strictly implement its demerit point system to be able to properly monitor license records. Licenses should only be issued to deserving and qualified drivers," Tugade added.

Artes added no licenses shall be confiscated while the LTO is working on its interconnectivity.