10-YEAR DRIVER’S LICENSE ILALATAG SA VIOLATION-FREE MOTORISTS

PALALAWIGIN ng Land Transportation Offi ce (LTO) sa 10 taon ang validity ng driver’s license simula sa October 2021, subalit para lamang ito sa mga motorista na walang violations.

“Ang pagpapalawig ng lisensiya up to 10 years mangyayari ito starting October 2021. [Pero] hindi lahat ng driver’s license possessor makakapag-enjoy nitong 10-year validity ng license kung siya ay mayroong demerit points,” wika ni LTO chief Assistant Secretary Edgar Galvante sa isang  virtual briefing kahapon.

“Isa iitong incentive para sa mga sumusunod sa batas trapiko, walang mga violation,” sabi ni Galvante.

Ang 10-year valid driver’s license ay nakapaloob sa isang provision sa Republic Act No. 1093, na nilagdaan noong 2017, na nakasaad na, “except for student permits, all drivers’ licenses shall be valid for five years reckoned from the birthdate of the licensee, unless sooner revoked or suspended: Provided, however, That subject to Section 26 hereof, any holder of a professional or nonprofessional driver’s license who has not committed any violation of Republic Act No. 4136 and other traffic laws, rules and regulations during the five -year period shall be entitled to a renewal of such license for 10 years, subject to the restrictions as may be imposed by the LTO.”

Para maipatupad ang batas, ang LTO ay bumuo ng isang ‘demerit’ system, kung saan ang isang motorista ay makaka-accumulate ng ‘demerit points’ depende sa bigat ng kanyang paglabag.

“Grave violation will cause a violator five demerit points, less grave three demerits points, ‘yung light naman one demerit point,” ani Galvante.

“Kung ang [motorist] ay maka-accumulate ng several demerit points during the duration of the five-year validity of the license, maaaring magkaroon ng imposition of fines and penalties kasama na ‘yung maaring required siya na magdaan siya sa reorientation as a driver.”

“Hindi siya makakapag-enjoy ng kanyang pribilehiyo nang pagda-drive hanggang hindi nase-serve ‘yung penalty, which can range from suspension to even ma-revoke ang lisensya,” dagdag pa ni Galvante.