The Land Transportation Office (LTO) has issued an official statement reminding the public and traffic enforcement authorities that traffic officers are currently prohibited from confiscating driver's licenses during traffic apprehensions.
This directive aligns with the Department of Transportation (DOTr) Memorandum Circular No. 001-2026, which outlines the national policy governing traffic apprehensions.
Compliance with DOTr Guidelines
Under the existing guidelines, LTO-deputized law enforcement officers are instructed to temporarily refrain from confiscating the physical driver's licenses of motorists who commit traffic violations. Instead of taking custody of the physical license, officers are tasked with issuing standard violation receipts or citation tickets.
The agency emphasized that this step ensures standard procedures are followed while maintaining administrative order on public roads.
Legal Grounding and LGU Authority
Addressing ongoing confusion regarding local government unit (LGU) traffic enforcers, the LTO clarified that existing Supreme Court jurisprudence does not grant blanket authority to traffic officers to confiscate driver’s licenses.
Furthermore, administrative policies issued by both the DOTr and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)—including the long-standing Joint Memorandum Circular No. 01, Series of 2008—explicitly state that while LGU traffic enforcers are authorized to issue citation tickets, they lack the legal basis to seize a motorist's physical license.
Call for Uniform Implementation
To maintain consistency in traffic law enforcement across the country, the LTO urges all LGUs, traffic enforcement agencies, and individual motorists to abide by current laws and directives.
The agency stressed that adherence to these guidelines is essential to ensuring a fair, orderly, and just implementation of traffic rules nationwide.
More LTO Guides
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