Philippines Traffic & Vehicle Law Violations and Corresponding Penalties. Article by Brent Co of AutoIndustriya.

com Ever been surprised by an apprehending traffic officer with a violation you haven't heard of? Every motorist, at least once in his lifetime has been apprehended by a traffic officer. Sometimes, you are surprised by the apprehending officer with a "new" or improvised traffic violation, or at times it might be something real that you just haven't heard of. Knowing the violations might save you money and trouble. There are also some instances of wrong apprehensions, like the very popular 'driving without license' violation. Do not allow the apprehending officer to get away with this, when you really have a license but did not bring it, this would only mean a failure to carry a driver's license when operating motor vehicle with a fine of 150 pesos compared to 750 pesos for driving without license. Be calm and polite when confronted by a traffic officer. Shouting or yelling at them can also get you in trouble. There is a violation called "Arrogance or discourtesy towards a traffic officer" which will incur a 150 peso fine. If you are driving a car be sure to bring along with you your spare tire, as failure to do so will also result in a violation with a fine of 150 pesos. Bring along your early warning device or buy one if you don't have one yet. This will save you 100 bucks and another 300 pesos if your car needs a little roadside repairs. Last but not least, please do remember to fasten your safety belts or be ready to pay 300 or even a 1000 pesos fine. Don't forget that using your mobile phone, be it calling, answering a call, or texting is also a violation of the law unless you have a hands free kit installed. Texting is still not permitted even with the installation of a hands free kit since texting cannot be done hands free.

Listed below are the traffic violations with corresponding penalties and subject of violation.

A. Violations related to licensing Violations Penalties Subject 1 Driving without license P 750.00 Driver 2 Driving with delinquent, invalid. suspended, ineffectual, revoked or improper license P 300.00 Driver 3 Failure to show or surrender drivers license for cause upon due demand by person with authority to confiscate. P 150.00 Driver Failure to carry drivers license when Operating motor vehicle. P 150.00 Driver Failure to sign drivers license P 150.00 Driver 4 Driving while under the influence of Liquor or prohibited drug P 2,000.00 Driver Driver Driver For the 2nd offense, Fine plus 1 year Suspension Subsequent violation Revocation of drivers license 5 Allowing an unlicensed/improperly licensed person to drive MV P 750.00 Owner/Operator 6 Possession and use of fake drivers license. If the driver has been issued an authentic license, the same shall be confiscated and suspended for 6 months in addition to the fine. If the driver has not been issued an authentic license, he shall not be qualified to secure drivers license for a period of six (6) months in addition to the fine P 1500.00 Driver 7 Allowing another person to use his drivers license

confiscation and suspension for one (1) month P 500.00 Driver 8 Use and involvement of MV by the driver in the commission of a crime-in case of court conviction, automatic revocation of drivers license. P 1500.00 Driver 9 Student Driver operating a MV without being accompanied by a licensed driver. P 200.00 Student Driver

B. Violations related to registration. 11 Operating a MV which is unregistered/improperly registered delinquent or with invalid registration. If driver is also the Owner, MV shall be impounded until Properly registered P 450.00 P 450.00 Driver Owner 12 Operating MV with unregistered substitute or replacement engine, engine block or chassis, change color, change body or configuration. In addition, MV shall be properly impounded until such parts are properly registered. P 500.00 Owner 13 Failure to carry in the MV the Certificate of Registration (CR) and Official Receipt (OR) (original or Photocopies) P 150.00 Owner 14 Operating/allowing the operation of MV with a suspended/revoked Certificate of Registration, P 450.00 MV impounded or its plates held during period of suspension / Revocation 15 Tourist Operating a non-Philippine registered MV beyond 90 day period of his sojourn. P 1500.00 MV shall not be allowed to operate until properly registered. Tourist

C. Violations relating to number plates and stickers.

16 MV number plates not firmly attached and visible. Dirty or uncared for plates. Inconspicuously displaced plates in front and rear. NO STICKER showing current Registration P 150.00 Driver 17 License plates different from body Operator number on Public Utility Vehicle P 450.00 Owner 18 Improper display of MV plates by owner (permanent) plates to accommodate a better display of commemorative/other plates. P 500.00 Owner 19 Display of expired commemorative/other plates P 200.00 Owner 20 Tampered/Marked plates/stickers P 300.00 Owner 21 a. Illegal transfer and use of MV plates/tags or stickers from one MV to another except security plates on authorized vehicle Owner/Operator are conclusively presumed to have caused or permit such illegal transfer and liable to fine. Driver of MV involved in illegal transfer of plates 1 month suspension of drivers license.

P 7500.00 Driver

Owner b. If MV is used and involved in commission of a crime, P 10000.00 Penalty plus motor vehicle impounded. Driver/Owner

D. Violations relative to equipment, parts, accessories, devices and marking of a motor vehicle 22 Operating MV with metallic tires on any public highway,

Defective brakes, Improper/defective horn or signaling device, Unnecessary lights visible in front of vehicle, Missing or defective headlights/taillights, Missing or red rear lights at both/each, side visible at least 100m. from vehicle, Missing or defective plate light, Missing or defective brake lights, Missing or defective wiper on the windshield, Missing cut/disconnected muffler. P 150.00 each Driver 23 Dirty/unsightly or dilapidated MV. In addition, confiscation of plates until defects are corrected P 150.00 Owner/Operator 24 Failure to paint or improper painting of authorized route or painting of unauthorized route of PUJ P 375.00 Owner/Operator 25 Non-painting of business or trade name. P 150.00 Confiscation of plates until defects are corrected. Owner 26 a. Use of unauthorized improvised plates b. Use of improvised plates to make MV appear as for hire. P 150.00 P 1,500.00 Owner 27 a. Dirty and/or unsanitary defective unit b. Without/defective hand brakes c. Without or defective speedometer or tachometer d. Defective or broken windshield e. Without or defective windshield wiper f. Without rear view mirror g. Without interior light P 150.00 Owner/Operator

28 Without name or business name and address inscribed on both sides of MV used for public services. P 150.00 Confiscation of plates until proper markings are made. Owner/Operator 29 Without spare tire P 150.00 Owner/Operator 30 Unauthorized bell sirens or exhausts whistle on emergency. P 150.00 Said gadgets shall be confiscated. Owner/Operator 31 Without red flag or red lights on projecting end of load extending more than a meter beyond the bed or body and in the evening, red lights visible at least 50 meters away P 150.00 Driver 32 Failure to paint appropriate body number on a MV for hire on both sides P 375.00 Owner/Operator 33 a. Failure to carry EWD b. Failure to install EWD 4 meters away to the front and rear of the stalled/disabled MV. P 100.00 P 300.00 Driver Driver 34 Without capacity markings P 150.00 Owner/Operator 35 Failure to wear safety belt while operating motor vehicle or while riding on front passenger seat P 1000.00 P 300.00 Owner/Operator 36 Without permanent tail gauge or failure to put NOT FOR HIRE sign in a private jeepney/jitney P 300.00 Owner

E. Violations relative to weights and load limits. 37 Load extending beyond projected width without permit 200.00 Driver 38 a. Operating MV with wheel axle, or axle group loads in excess of the limits in Sec. 9, RA 4136 or any regulation

without permit. P 150.00 Driver b. Operating MV with total weight of cargo carrying device on passenger truck including cargo exceeding 100 kilos. P 150.00 Driver c. Allowing more passengers and/or more freight or cargo in his vehicle more than the registered carrying capacity. P 150.00 Driver (If PUV, imposed upon Conductor) d. Baggage or freight carried on top of truck exceeds 20 kilos per sq. meter and not distributed in such a manner as not to endanger the passenger or stability of the truck. P 150.00 Driver/Conductor

F. Violations relative to frauds and falsities 39 Use of invalid/ delinquent/ suspended/ revoked/ fake license, identification card or permit. P 1000.00 to P 3000.000 Driver 40 Fake CR, OR, plates, tags or stickers/spurious documents P 1000.00 to P 3000.000 Owner/Operator 41 Misrepresenting a copy of a document before the Traffic Adjudication Service P 1000.00 Owner/Operator/ Driver

G. Violations related to parking and drivers 42 Parking within an intersection Parking on a crosswalk Parking within 5 m. of the intersection of the intersection of curb lines Parking within 4 m. of the driveway entrance to any fire station

Parking within 4 m. of a fire hydrant Parking in front of a private highway Parking on the roadway side of any unmoving or parked at the curb or edge of the highway Parking at any place where official signs of prohibition have been erected Allowing a passenger on top or cover of vehicle Allowing a passenger to ride on running board, step board or mudguard of MV while it is in motion Disregarding traffic signs Failure to use helmet while driving/riding a motorcycle P 150.00 each Driver 43 Reckless Driving - 1st Offense - 2nd Offense and suspension of Drivers License - 3rd Offense and revocation of Drivers License P 150.00 P 750.00 P 1000.00 Driver 44 Arrogance or Discourtesy P 150.00 Driver 45 Failure to dim headlights P 150.00 Driver 46 Driving in slippers or sleeveless shirt P 100.00 Driver 47 Driving in a place not for traffic or parking in a place not for parking Failure to give way to police or fire department vehicle or ambulance Hitching or permitting a person on a bicycle or roller skates to hitch

to the vehicl. P 100.00 Driver

H. Traffic Violations 48 Illegal turn P 150.00 Driver 49 Driving against traffic/counterflow P 2000.00 Driver 50 Illegal overtaking P 150.00 Driver 51 Overtaking at an unsafe distance P 150.00 Driver 52 Cutting an overtaken vehicle P 150.00 Driver 53 Failure to give way to an overtaking vehicle P 150.00 Driver 54 Increasing speed when being overtaken P 150.00 Driver 55 Overtaking when left side is not visible or clear P 150.00 Driver 56 Overtaking on a crest or grade P 150.00 Driver 57 Overtaking on a curve P 150.00 Driver 58 Overtaking at a railway grade crossing P 150.00 Driver 59 Overtaking at an intersection P 150.00 Driver 60 Overtaking between "Men Working" or "Caution" signs P 150.00 Driver 61 Failure to yield to the right of way P 150.00 Driver 62 Failure to come to a complete stop at a through street P 150.00 Driver 63 Failure to come to a complete stop at a stop intersection P 150.00 Driver 64 Failure to give proper turn/stop signals P 150.00 Driver 65 Illegal right turn P 150.00 Driver

66 Illegal left turn P 150.00 Driver 67 Failure to stop motor vehicle and apply handbrake when unattended P 150.00 Driver 68 Causing an obstruction to traffic P 150.00 Driver

In Quezon city, most of the traffic violations carry a fine of P 500, the most popular of which is disregard for traffic rules. Reckless driving, driving under the influence are fined P 2,000 plus seminar. Parking related violations are fined P 500.

Allow at least 2 hours to claim your driver's license on a Monday at the Gate 5of Kalayaan Street (behind the Shell Station).

When you look at the listing of violations which is similar to the list above, you would say you will most likely be accosted every now and then.

Difficult for me to understand is reckless driving which from other local ordinances meant: u. Driving recklessly (reckless driving) manifested by certain improper acts including, but not limited to, the following; Sudden stopping without any justifiable reason; Weaving in and out of the lane he is occupying; Fast driving in a crowded roadway; Cutting in front of another moving vehicle; Beating the red light; Running down a barricade; Passing through the designated pedestrian lane without

reducing his vehicles speed; Turning or crossing the intersection from the wrong lane; Loading or unloading passengers in the middle or the wrong portion of the roadway; Cutting corners.

The principle is: Reckless Driving. No person shall operate a motor vehicle on any highway recklessly or without reasonable caution considering the width, traffic, grades, crossing, curvatures, visibility and other conditions of the highway and the conditions of the atmosphere and weather, or so as to endanger the property or the safety or rights of any person or so as to cause excessive or unreasonable damage to the highway.