Tollway-using motorists to face penalties for no ETC device, insufficient load

MANILA: Motorists with no radio frequency identification sticker toll payment system or with insufficient load shall soon face penalties when using the expressways.

Signed last August 1, the Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC) 2024-001 of the Department of Transportation, Land Transportation Office, and Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) shall impose fines beginning August 31, 2024.

Per TRB, among the purposes of JMC 2024-001 is to bar those without electronic toll collection (ETC) devices or with insufficient load from entering the ETC-dedicated lanes.

“These erring motorists represent nine percent of all the motorists using the toll expressways who unfortunately are the ones causing the unnecessary delays and long queues at the toll plazas,” the toll-regulating agency noted.

“A vast majority of toll expressway users (91 percent) are compliant and responsible ETC users and are often greatly inconvenienced by the erring motorists,” it added.

The implementation of the said JMC, the board mentioned, is eyed to improve the flow of traffic at the toll plazas, which would help save time, money and resources.

Below are the penalties that will be meted out to motorists who will violate the toll collection directive.

• Entering a highway without the required ETC (including dilapidated ETC device) shall be penalize as “No valid ETC”:
  • First offense: P1,000
  • Second offense: P2,000
  • Subsequent offenses: P5,000 per offense
• Entering a toll road with insufficient account balance:
  • First offense: P500
  • Second offense P1,000
  • Subsequent offenses: P2,500 per offense

Motorists who will use fraudulent, fake, or tampered ETC device or E-card will also be slapped with a fine of P1,000 for the initial offense; P2,000 on the second; and P5,000 for the third and succeeding instances.

Further, those who will refuse to have the ETC device replaced despite being notified by the provider, the vehicle and its owner, operator, or driver’s respective license shall be put on alarm until he or she complies with it.

Additionally, the license of the driver who shall repeatedly violate JMC 2024-001 within a 12-month period may be confiscated. If the same vehicle was used to repetitively commit the error, the vehicle shall be put on alarm until the penalty is settled.

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