To resolve mounting public complaints, the Land Transportation Office has issued a memorandum prohibiting the confiscation of motor vehicle license plates by law enforcers.

LTO chief Jay Art Tugade, in his issuance, reiterated that law enforcers and authorized agents are “forbidden from confiscating license plates of traffic violators if the apprehended motor vehicles cannot be impounded.”

The memorandum cites the provisions under
Joint Administrative Order 2014-01.

The order stated that a driver’s license, student permit, or motor vehicle can only be flagged if the apprehending law enforcer cannot immediately administer the relevant penalty to the vehicle or driver.

According to Tugade, the LTO will continue to arm its command center with enough staff and support system to swiftly relay information about flagged motor vehicles to law enforcement officers in the field.

Early this month, the LTO announced its plan to introduce an electronic version of the driver’s license in collaboration with the Department of Information and Communications Technology.

Tugade said the digital license will be an electronic alternative to the physical driver’s license card and will be integrated into a super application under development by the DICT.

The LTO is currently digitalizing its systems and operations to make the transaction of services more efficient and more convenient for the public.

With Jing Villamente