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• LTO Violations Every Motorist Should Take Note Of

LTO Violations Every Motorist Should Take Note Of

Even the most careful drivers can get a ticket at least once in their lives. Whether it’s for smoking in a non-smoking area or for throwing garbage at the wrong place, we’ve all paid fines for doing something we shouldn’t. 

If you’re a motorist in the Philippines, chances are you’ve already received a ticket from the Land Transportation Office (LTO) for violating a traffic rule or two.

We sympathize because we’re all just humans. There are some days when you just forget or lose your cool. However, the goal is to not be fined or penalized again. You can certainly achieve that by being a responsible and knowledgeable motorist and taking note of these LTO violations.

LTO Fines and Penalties for Traffic and Administrative Violations

License-Related LTO Violations

1. Driving Without License

LTO fine: PHP 3,000

Going for a quick drive but too lazy to get a driving license? Think twice before starting your vehicle then. The penalty for driving without a license in the Philippines is a hefty PHP 3,000.

This driving without license fine also applies to having a delinquent, expired, suspended, revoked, improper, or fake driver’s license.

Heads-up for student drivers! You’ll also pay this no license penalty when you’re caught driving without a duly licensed driver as a companion.

Read more:

• How to Get a Driver’s License in the Philippines
• Where Can I Learn Driving in Metro Manila?
• First Time Driver? Here’s How to Get the Right Car Insurance for You

2. Not Wearing a Seat Belt

LTO fine: PHP 1,000 to PHP 5,000

Wearing your seat belt should be the very first thing you do when you get inside your vehicle. For drivers and passengers who fail to do so, prepare to pay the fine of PHP 1,000 on your first offense. If you’re a second-time offender, you’ll need to pay the fine of PHP 2,000. For the third offense and every succeeding one, the fine will be PHP 5,000. 

You’ll also pay the same fine if you allow kids 6 years old and below to sit on the front seat of your vehicle. Aside from the fine, your driver’s license will also be suspended for 1 week.

Read more: Child Safety in Motor Vehicles Act: What Parents Must Know

4. Reckless Driving

LTO fine: PHP 2,000 to PHP 10,000

The penalty for reckless driving in the Philippines includes a fine plus suspension of your driver’s license. When caught for reckless driving for the first time, the penalty is PHP 2,000. If you still don’t learn your lesson and get caught for the second time, you’ll be fined PHP 3,000 and get a 3-month suspension on your driver’s license.

On your third and subsequent offenses, the penalty will be PHP 10,000, plus 6 months suspension or revocation of your driver’s license.

5. Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol and/or Prohibited Drugs

LTO fine: PHP 20,000 to PHP 80,000

This is a serious violation with serious consequences. If your violation did not result in physically injuring or killing someone, the penalty will be 3 months imprisonment and a fine of PHP 20,000 to PHP 80,000. 

However, if the violation resulted in physical injuries, the penalty will be as stated in Article 263 of the Revised Penal Code^[1], plus a fine of PHP 100,000 to PHP 200,000.

If the violation resulted in homicide, the penalty will be as stated in Article 249 of the Revised Penal Code^[2], plus a fine of PHP 300,000 to PHP 500,000.

Furthermore, the non-professional driver’s license will be confiscated and suspended for 12 months on the first conviction. On the second conviction, it will be perpetually revoked.

For the professional driver’s license, it will be confiscated and perpetually revoked on the first conviction. Moreover, the driver will also be disqualified from being given any kind of driver’s license after that. 

Read more: Here’s How You Can Claim a Confiscated Driver’s License

6. Not Wearing a Helmet 

LTO fine: PHP 1,500 to PHP 10,000

Motorcycle riders and their back riders should always wear a helmet whenever they travel.

Failure to do so will warrant an applicable LTO fine:

• First offense: PHP 1,500
• Second offense: PHP 3,000
• Third offense: PHP 5,000
• Fourth and succeeding offenses: PHP 10,000 

Furthermore, motorcycle riders and their back riders will be fined if found wearing substandard helmets or those without the ICC sticker. The fine is PHP 3,000 on the first offense and PHP 5,000 on the second offense.

Number Plate-Related Violations and Penalties

1. Number Plate Not Firmly Attached

LTO fine: PHP 5,000

Be aware of different LTO violations on plate numbers. Make sure that you have a license plate that’s properly attached to your vehicle.

A no plate violation will incur a hefty fine of PHP 5,000. Driving with a loose number plate may not only cause damage to your vehicle but also risk your safety and that of other motorists you share the road with.

2. LTO Sticker Violation

LTO fine: PHP 5,000

This fine applies to motorists and motorcycle riders attaching improper third-party stickers or tampering with LTO stickers. LTO decals violations will also incur the same penalty.  

Read more: 

• Quick Reminders Before Claiming Your New LTO License Plate
• LTO Vanity Plate: The Pros and Cons of Customizing Your Plate Number

3. Tampering with License Plates

LTO fine: PHP 5,000

Aside from the fine, the unauthorized license plate will be removed and confiscated as well.

4. Illegal Transfer or Use of Regularly Issued Vehicle Plates, Tags, or Stickers

LTO fine: PHP 10,000

For drivers whose vehicle is involved in the illegal transfer of plates or stickers, their license will be suspended for three months.

If the vehicle was used in criminal activity, the owner would be required to pay an LTO penalty of PHP 12,000. The plates, registration certificate, and Official Receipt would also be suspended for two years

Note: Security plates on an authorized vehicle are exempted from the LTO fine.

Parts and Accessories-Related Violations and Penalties

1. Driving with a Defective Tail Light

LTO fine: PHP 5,000

The defective tail light penalty can really hurt your wallet. So as a responsible motorist, check that everything is working properly before you hit the road. This fine for defective/improper/unauthorized accessories, devices, equipment and parts also applies to the following:

• Bells/horns/sirens/whistles
• Blinkers
• Brakes
• Early warning device (EWD)
• Grill/s
• Jalousies
• Foot and hand brakes
• Brake lights, headlights, interior lights, signal lights
• Mirrors
• Mufflers
• Metallic tires/spare tire
• Speedometer
• Windshield
• Wipers
• Any other accessory, device, equipment or part that may risk road safety

Apart from paying the fine, your vehicle will also be impounded until you replace or properly install the said part. Unauthorized plates, accessories, or devices will be confiscated as well. 

2. Smoke Belching

LTO fine: PHP 2,000 to PHP 6,000

When caught for smoke belching for the first time, you’ll have to pay a PHP 2,000 penalty. For the second offense, apprehended motorists will face a fine of PHP 4,000. For the third offense, violators will get 1-year suspension of the vehicle’s registration plus a PHP 6,000 penalty.

Read more:

• Complete Guide to LTO Car Registration and Renewal
• Vehicle Coding Exemptions in the Philippines That Motorists Should Know

FAQs on LTO Violations and Penalties

Photo from Freepik

1. What’s the penalty for not wearing a face mask inside private vehicles?

Whether from the same household or not, it’s now mandatory for drivers and their passengers to wear a face mask inside private vehicles. As of this writing, you won’t be fined or penalized for failing to meet this guideline. However, you’ll be reminded to observe public health standards^[3].

2. What’s the LTO fine for DTS violation?

The fine for DTS or Disregarding Traffic Signs is PHP 1,000. This applies to all driver activities that don’t follow road rules and traffic signs while driving.

3. How much is the LTO fine for brake light violation?

If your brake light is defective, you’ll be fined PHP 5,000. It’s the same with the no tail light violation fee.

4. What’s an LTO alarm violation?

LTO alarms are placed on vehicles with a bad record in LTO because of driver apprehension or for being hot cars or carnapped vehicles. 

Final Thoughts

Most violations are easily avoided if motorists, motorcycle riders, and passengers just follow the rules. Always be alert on the road. Keep in mind these rules on LTO violations to avoid the above-mentioned fines and penalties.

Note: These are just some of the LTO violations in the Philippines. Click on the link below^[4] for the complete list.

Get a Free Car Insurance Quote!

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Car Insurance Company	Features
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Prudential Guarantee	10 years of casa eligibility PHP 3,000,000 maximum total sum insured Overnight accommodation - Yes, up to PHP 2,000 Towing - Yes, up to PHP 5,500 Vehicle removal crane services - Yes, up to PHP 15,000
SGI Philippines	5 years of casa eligibility 36 accredited repair shops PHP 5,000,000 maximum total sum insured Overnight accommodation - Yes, up to PHP 2,000 Towing amount - Yes, up to PHP 5,000 Vehicle removal crane services - PHP 10,000
Stronghold Insurance	10 years of casa eligibility 167 accredited repair shops PHP 3,000,000 maximum total sum insured
The Mercantile Insurance Corporation	10 years of casa eligibility 77 accredited repair shops PHP 5,000,000 maximum total sum insured Overnight accommodation - Yes, up to PHP 2,000 Towing - Yes, up to PHP 5,000 Vehicle removal crane services - Yes, up to PHP 10,000

Sources:

• ^[1] Article 263 of the Revised Penal Code (Lawphil.Net)
• ^[2] Article 249 of the Revised Penal Code (Lawphil.Net)
• ^[3] It’s final: Drivers, passengers of private cars required to wear face masks (Inquirer.net, 2021)
• ^[4] Revised Schedule of Fines and Penalties for Violations of Land Transportation Rules

Moneymax

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