The demerit system of the Land Transportation Office (LTO) scores different offenses to determine how many violations a license holder has.

The scoring system of the LTO's demerit system is as follows:

Violation Category	Demerit Point/s
Grave Violations	5
Less Grave Violations	3
Light Violations	1

Your license's validity at the next renewal will also depend on how many demerit points you accumulate. The points are counted from the day your license was issued. You have a six-month prohibition period if you have one to two demerit points. A three-month prohibition applies if you have three to four demerit points. Your license will be suspended for a year or more, depending on the violations, if you receive five or more demerit points.

Violations

Grave Violations

• Riding a motorcycle along with a child on public highway (third and succeeding offenses)
• Using a smartphone or other electronic device while driving (third and succeeding offenses)
• Failure of the driver and passenger to wear seatbelt (third and succeeding offenses)
• Failure to wear a motorcycle helmet, including the back rider (third and succeeding offenses)
• Smoke belching (third and succeeding offenses)
• Reckless driving (third and succeeding offenses)
• Driving when intoxicated by alcohol, illegal drugs, or similar substance
• Driving a vehicle that is not registered
• Driving without a license
• Providing false documentation when requesting a driver's license or renewing one
• Unlicensed PUV operation with fare collection
• Axle overloading
• Disobeying traffic signs (repeat offenders)
• Overtaking (at a curve, when the left side is not clear of oncoming traffic, at an intersection, in a no-overtaking zone, within an unsafe distance, upon a crest or grade, and at any railway crossing)
• Not pulling aside for an overtaking vehicle
• Increasing speed while being overtaken
• Cutting an overtaken vehicle
• Disregarding right of way
• Riding a motorcycle while carrying multiple passengers
• Fake CPC, OR/CR, plates, stickers, or tags
• Driving a vehicle with accessories or parts that are faulty, inappropriate, or illegal
• Transporting illegal cargo (drugs, illegal firearms, endangered animals, etc.)
• Modification of a vehicle without authorization
• Driving a vehicle with right-hand drive
• Driving against the traffic flow
• Fraud involving the registration or renewal of a vehicle's registration
• Driving a vehicle used as an accessory to a crime
• Driving a vehicle while committing a crime

Less Grave Violations

• Riding a motorcycle along with a child on public highway (second offense)
• Using a smartphone or other electronic device while driving (second offense)
• Failure of the driver and passenger to wear seatbelt (second offense)
• Failure to wear a motorcycle helmet, including the back rider (second offense)
• Smoke-belching (second offense)
• Reckless driving (second offense)
• Not affixing license plates
• Alteration of license plates
• Violations related to registration of vehicles
• Malicious obstructing of traffic
• Illegal parking 
• Extending a load past its estimated width without authorization 
• Driving a bus or truck with a load above 160 kilograms of its limit
• Letting passengers ride on the roof of a vehicle
• Hitching or allowing a bicycle, a person, a skateboarder, a motorcycle, or a tricycle to hitch to a vehicle
• Not dimming headlights when moving closer to another vehicle
• Not giving right of way to emergency vehicles
• Not granting pedestrians the right of way at a pedestrian crossing
• Not stopping before a railroad crossing or "through highway"
• Refusing to stop at a "stop intersection" or a "through highway"
• Not applying the brakes and shutting off the engine when leaving the vehicle unattended
• Not providing a service to the general public or not transporting a passenger to their destination for PUVs
• Trip-cutting for PUVs

Light Violations

• Riding a motorcycle along with a child on public highway (first offense)
• Using a smartphone or other electronic device while driving (first offense)
• Failure of the driver and passenger to wear seatbelt (first offense)
• Failure to wear a motorcycle helmet, including the back rider (first offense)
• Smoke-belching (first offense)
• Reckless driving (first offense)
• Operating a vehicle without a driver's license or OR/CR
• Failing to adhere to the proper lane designation when making a turn
• Not giving way to oncoming traffic when entering a highway from a private road
• Not using signal lights
• Not putting to cover cargo or freight trucks
• Improper towing
• Driving through "men at work" and "caution" signs
• Driving through or into locations that are not meant for traffic or parking
• Fare overcharging or undercharging
• No public transportation franchise or certificate inside a PUV
• Franchise violation of the terms and conditions in the 2011 revised terms and conditions on the public conveyance certificate
• No signboard for PUVs
• Not displaying fare matrix 
• Not having a "no smoking" sign and allowing people to smoke inside a PUV
• Not granting fare discounts to individuals who are eligible for them in accordance with existing laws and corresponding LTFRB memorandum circulars
• Not having the International Symbol of Access displayed inside, not having seats designated for persons with disabilities, and refusing to transport persons with disabilities
• Picking up and dropping off passengers outside the terminal for buses
• Faulty, inaccurate, or manipulated taxi meter
• Using an outdated taxi meter or a broken seal
• Using taxi meter sealing wire that has been damaged, tampered, joined, reconnected, or faked

Checking demerit points

To check your demerit points online, visit the LTO LTMS portal and create an account. Once logged in, click on the “Violations” icon. Your demerit points will then be displayed along with the corresponding violation. It will also display the balance you have for that particular violation as well as your violations history.

Although the LTO has now made it easier for motorists to track their records, it is still important to always abide by traffic rules and regulations for your safety and convenience.

Photos from Land Transportation Office