LTO mulls 10-year validity, demerit system for driver’s license

MANILA: The LTO (Land Transportation Office) is studying the possibility of granting drivers with clean records 10-year validity on their next renewal while also implementing a demerit system for drivers with traffic violations.

“Hopefully with this measure, mababawasan yung mga road crashes, traffic accidents na nagko-cause ng mga injuries, even pagkamatay (there will be a reduction in road crashes, traffic accidents that cause injuries or even deaths),” said LTO Assistant Secretary Edgar Galvante.

The proposed demerit system would be classified into three different categories: grave violations (5 demerit points), less grave (3 demerit points), and light violations (1 demerit point).

A "grave violation" would be using a motor vehicle in committing a crime. Driving under the influence of alcohol or illegal substances is an example of a ‘less grave violation’, while a first-time offender of a basic traffic rule would be classified under ‘light violation’.

“Then kung halimbawa yung mga violation na classified na less grave, pero paulit-ulit yung ginagawa, o naco-commit, could be classified also as grave violation (Then, for example, if a violation classified as less grave is committed repeatedly, it could be classified as a grave violation),” Galvante added.

Accumulated demerits during the duration of the driver’s license validity will then incur fines, penalties, or more severe sanctions.

“And hindi siya makakapag-drive hanggang hindi nasasagawa or nase-serve yung penalty, which can range from suspension to even revocation of license (And he would not be able to drive until serving his penalty. And this could range from suspension to even revocation of the driver’s license),” commented Galvante.

The 10-year license incentive and the demerits was actually signed into law after the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act. No. 10930 was published in June 2019.

Photo from the DOTr Facebook page

Also read: 24 LTO branches now online for application, renewal of driver’s license