The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has ordered the Land Transportation Office (LTO) to suspend the confiscation of driver’s licenses in traffic violation cases, following public criticism over how apprehensions are handled.
Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez issued the directive in a memorandum dated January 9, citing the need to clarify procedures and ensure uniform enforcement nationwide.
The order follows instructions from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to review and fix confusing traffic enforcement rules.
Under the new policy, driver’s licenses will no longer be confiscated upon apprehension. Instead, they will be placed under alert status while motorists settle their violations.
The DOTr also amended the settlement period for traffic violations from 15 calendar days to 15 working days, excluding holidays and weekends.
“This means holidays and long weekends will no longer be counted when drivers are given time to settle their violations,” Lopez said.
If a motorist fails to resolve a case within the 15 working days, the LTO will impose automatic suspension or revocation of the license.
The policy change follows a widely discussed case involving road safety advocate and vlogger James Deakin, who complained about the suspension of his son’s driver’s license after a traffic violation on Skyway Stage 3 on December 18, 2025.
Deakin said his 19-year-old son, a new driver, was apprehended for crossing a double yellow line after missing an exit.
While Deakin said his son admitted the mistake and was willing to pay the fine, he questioned why the violation was classified as reckless driving and why holidays were counted in the 15-day deadline to settle the case.
Because the LTO office handling license retrieval was closed during the holidays, Deakin said they were unable to process the violation on time.
When they returned, his son was told the deadline had lapsed and his license was suspended for one month.
The incident drew public attention and prompted questions about license confiscation, penalty classification, and the inclusion of holidays in settlement periods.
The LTO later said it had launched an investigation into the case and temporarily suspended the traffic enforcer involved.
The DOTr said the new rules aim to prevent similar situations, reduce confusion among motorists, and protect due process while maintaining discipline on the roads.
The LTO has been directed to immediately implement the changes and inform all regional and district offices nationwide.
