The Land Transportation Office (LTO) on Wednesday stood by its decision to cite the son of automotive vlogger James Deakin for reckless driving, revealing that the 19-year-old was operating a vehicle that had no legal registration to be on the road.
In a briefing, LTO chief Assistant Secretary Markus Lacanilao clarified that the citation followed an incident on 18 December, when the driver crossed a double solid line on Skyway Stage 3.
Lacanilao stressed that crossing such markings is a “clear, universal and strict” violation.
“The mistake of forgetting where the exit is not an excuse to violate clear traffic control markings,” Lacanilao said, noting that the driver should have proceeded to the next available exit.
The LTO further disclosed that the vehicle driven by Deakin’s son lacked an Official Receipt and Certificate of Registration (OR/CR) or a sales invoice. Lacanilao said the driver only presented documents from the importer to the dealer, which do not authorize the vehicle for public road use.
“The car had no paper,” Lacanilao said. “It should not be driven on the road because there is no relevant paper.”
The statement follows social media posts by the elder Deakin, who argued that a reckless driving charge was an excessive “step too far” for a lane violation and could unfairly criminalize his son’s record.
Lacanilao clarified the distinction between “reckless driving,” which is an administrative violation, and “reckless imprudence,” which is a criminal offense under the Revised Penal Code. He cited that because the vehicle was unregistered, the offense automatically falls under reckless driving per agency rules.
“Maybe they were confused,” Lacanilao said. “Reckless driving is not reckless imprudence with a criminal case.”
Addressing complaints regarding the retrieval of the driver’s license, the LTO cited that traffic violations must be settled within 15 calendar days — not working days. Because the 15-day window included the Christmas holidays, the driver missed the deadline to contest or settle, resulting in an automatic one-month license suspension.
“It should be the driver’s responsibility to consider the schedule of the holidays,” Lacanilao said.
The LTO has issued subpoenas to Deakin’s camp and the vehicle’s dealership to further investigate the lack of registration. The apprehending officer has also been directed to submit a formal statement.
