CCTO to start seizing driver's licenses
The Cebu City Transportation Office is now gearing towards implementing the ordinance that allows traffic enforcers to confiscate driver’s license amid warnings from critics.
CCTO Operations Chief Francisco Ouano said at least 100 enforcers will undergo training before the implementation of the new policy this month.
“Wala ta nakigcoordinate (sa LTO). In fact, naay mga abogado nga nagtuon ani. Dili ni tiaw-tiaw. Ordinansa baya ni…Expect namo within the month. Kahibaw gyud ta nga naay atubangon nga kaso pero ang atong gipanglantawan ang syudad man gud, kita man ta nga daghan kaayo og violator,” he told reporters.
Ouano said his office is banking on the decision of the Supreme Court in the case of Metropolitan Development Authority vs Dante O. Garin and the Local Government Unit.
In this case, the court ruled that a license to operate a motor vehicle is a privilege that the state may withhold in the exercise of police power. The Supreme Court declared that “where a traffic law or regulation is validly enacted by the legislature or those agencies to whom legislative powers have been delegated, the latter is not precluded –and in fact is duty-bound to confiscate and suspend or revoke driver’s licenses in the exercise of its mandate of transport and traffic management...”
“Ang LGU has the power also isip local government siya, dako siya og katigayunan nga makaenforce,” Ouano said.
“Nakakuha gyud ta og kopya sa isa sa syudad sa Ilo-ilo nga sila diay pag 1992, ilang enforcers maka confiscate og driver’s licenses,” he added.
Councilors Raymond Alvin Garcia and Jocelyn Pesquera had already asked the CCTO to defer the implementation this month until the traffic enforcers get deputation from the Land Transportation Office.
Section 29 of Republic Act No. 4136 or the Land Transportation and Traffic Code states that "law enforcement and peace officers of agencies duly deputized by Land Transportation Office shall in apprehending a driver for any violation of the code or any regulations not contrary to any provisions of the law, confiscate the license of the driver concerned and issued a receipt prescribed and issued for the purpose."
As of now, Ouano said the office is finalizing the Adjudication Board that will operate 24/7 to ensure that drivers will get back their licenses anytime of the day.
“Kon dili ka magpabadlong, kon mo follow lang ka sa traffic rules, dili man pod ka angay mahadlok ani,” he said.
Under the new policy, CCTO traffic enforcers are allowed to issue an Ordinance Violation Receipt (OVR) or Citation Ticket to those people found violating any provision of the Land Transportation and Traffic Code of the Philippines, or any traffic regulations of the City of Cebu.
Among the traffic rules are no stopping, no U-turn, no parking, disregard of traffic signs, among others.
Ouano said traffic enforcers will issue citation tickets to traffic violators.
“Inig kuha sa driver’s license, duna pod tay i-issue nga papel nga valid for five days, pwede sila maka drive bisag na confiscate ilang license pero diri rana sa syudad valid,” he said, adding that he received reports that the other neighboring cities will also be implementing similar ordinance.
The confiscated driver’s license will be released upon payment of P1,000 fine.