Several service vehicles of the Land Transportation Office were issued traffic citation tickets just behind the agency’s office in Barangay Sevilla, City of San Fernando, La Union, on 12 February.

The vehicles, including a pickup truck carrying a motorcycle reportedly bound for impounding, were parked along the roadside when a city traffic enforcer issued the citations.

Individuals privy to the incident, who are not authorized to speak on behalf of the LTO and whose identities have been withheld, said the episode allegedly stemmed from a miscommunication between agency personnel and the city’s traffic bureau regarding the parking arrangement in the area. They said the vehicles had been temporarily parked so personnel could process documents for the motorcycle’s impoundment before proceeding to the impounding area.

Barangay Sevilla hosts several regional and national government offices for Region 1, contributing to heavy daily vehicular traffic in the vicinity. Residents interviewed said roadside parking has become a regular concern, citing the absence of a common parking facility for employees and clients. As a result, vehicles often occupy roadside spaces during office hours.

The incident also highlights the enforcement of Republic Act 4136, or the Land Transportation and Traffic Code, which governs vehicle registration, driver licensing and road use. The law covers provisions on illegal parking, obstruction and the authority of traffic enforcers to issue citation tickets and impose penalties. It applies to all motorists, including drivers of government vehicles.

Both LTO Region 1 and the City Government of San Fernando have yet to issue official statements on the matter. Efforts to obtain comment from LTO and city traffic officials are ongoing.