Councilor wants driving without license criminalized

Drivers without license were involved in 9,042 traffic violations from September 2017 to July 2019, according to CTTMO records. (Uniquely Davao)

The Davao City Council is being asked to declare driving without license a criminal act.

This came in a resolution proposed by City Councilor Conrado Baluran, committee chair on transportation and communications.

Baluran came up with the proposed law which metes stiff penalties to violators as City Transportation and Traffic Management Office (CTTMO) records showed that a total of 9,042 traffic violations from September 2017 to July 2019 involved offenders with no driving licenses.

Every driver should possess a valid driver’s license and should be equipped with basic safety knowledge on traffic rules and regulations, Baluran explained.

“Driving a vehicle is not a right, rather a privilege for those who have established accountability to abide by the rules,” he said.

He lamented that this privilege is abused by motorists.

CTTMO records also show that driving without license ranked seventh among 46 traffic violations.

Baluran said statistics proved that violators take this matter for granted and that considering the penalty is cheap, “they can afford to pay it repeatedly.”

In Davao City, smoking in public places is a criminal act.

“Why not consider driving without license as one,” Baluran said adding that it will save lives and property.