LTO eyes stringent penalties vs. road rage

The Land Transportation Office (LTO) revealed that it is eyeing more stringent penalties against hot-headed motorists. 

The move to conduct such a study — the LTO said — was spurred by the “prohibitive” penalties by the current law. Mendoza noted that the current law levies penalties that are “not that tough” — unless the incident causes injury or death. 

“Kung walang death or injury, kung grabe naman pagka-road rage niya, parang may special law siya, para ‘yung penalty niya would not be just a simple violation noong 4136, reckless driving or improper person. (if the incident did not result in death or injury but the episode of road rage was a little too much, there should be a special law so that the penalty would not be just a simple violation of [Republic Act> 4136, reckless driving or improper person),” LTO Chief Assistant Attorney Vigor Mendoza II said. 

Further, the agency said that it is conducting its own study to define what road rage is and identify the necessary penalties for such incidents. 

Per LTO, it is conducting a “complete staff work” to push for the creation of a law that will clearly define and penalize road rage incidents.

“Kasama diyan ‘yung pag-craft ng batas na magiging proposal namin sa Kongreso as far as road rage incidents are concerned pero we’re doing complete staff work muna kasi mahirap sabihin, mahirap i-define eh (that includes the crafting of the law that will be our proposal to Congress as far as road rage incidents are concerned, but we're doing complete staff work first because it's hard to say, it's hard to define),” commented Mendoza.

Photos from Land Transportation Office - Philippines Facebook Page

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