fbpx
Traffic > Legal

LTO runs after viral traffic law offenders

The agency’s resolve to run after motoring violators is quite admirable

Play stupid games, win stupid prizes. SCREENSHOTS FROM FACEBOOK

You can’t play stupid games and not expect to get stupid prizes. More and more motorists seem to fail to realize that, as we see one viral post after another showing how some people intentionally break traffic laws and share it on social media.

Take the case of young businessman Josh Mojica of Kangkong Chips fame. While some find his story of financial success inspiring, one of his social media posts has irked netizens.

Nothing wrong with flexing your success as long as you don’t break any laws while doing so. SCREENSHOT FROM FACEBOOK

In a video shared on his Facebook account, he was seen driving his recently acquired Porsche with the top down along EDSA. That could have looked cool if someone else was filming him.

However, it was clear he was holding his mobile phone in his right hand while taking a selfie video of himself driving his sports car. This caught the Land Transportation Office’s attention, and now the agency is taking action.

Mojica will have to be comfortable being a passenger for now. GRAPHIC FROM LAND TRANSPORTATION OFFICE

The LTO immediately suspended his driver’s license for 90 days, and sent him a show cause order for charges of reckless driving, violation of the Anti-Distracted Driving Act, and being an Improper Person to Operate a Motor Vehicle.

Additionally, the registered owner of the Porsche was sent an SCO, and the car has been placed under alarm. If the LTO finds Mojica guilty of the charges—especially the last one—he could have his license revoked.

Mojica has since apologized and posted a statement on his Facebook page.

The rider may have avoided an NCAP citation, but he could also lose his license. GRAPHIC FROM LAND TRANSPORTATION OFFICE

There’s also the case of a photo shared on our Facebook page where an unidentified person was seen putting strips of black tape on the third digit of the license plate. The LTO believes this is a method to dodge the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority’s No Contact Apprehension Program.

The agency also issued a show cause order to the registered owner and designated driver of the scooter. While no driver’s licenses have been suspended yet, the designated driver will be charged with being an Improper Person to Operate a Motor Vehicle, which could lead to license revocation.

Clearly, money can’t buy class for these car owners. GRAPHIC FROM LAND TRANSPORTATION OFFICE

Finally, the LTO has also sent SCOs to the registered owners of a BMW M4, a Chevrolet Camaro, a Ford Mustang, two Mazda MX-5s, and a Nissan Z. In a now-viral video, these sports cars were seen racing along a public road in Tagaytay City.

The licenses of these owners are now suspended for 90 days, and the designated drivers will also face a 90-day suspension once identified. The owners are asked to bring the cars’ registration papers and other documents for review.

If found guilty, the drivers risk license revocation as they are charged with reckless driving and being an Improper Person to Operate a Motor Vehicle.

By submitting photos and videos of bad drivers, we can help make our roads safer. SCREENSHOT FROM FACEBOOK

It’s strange that we have to commend the LTO for doing what it is expected to do. But given the agency’s past inaction, we can’t help but appreciate the agency’s efforts to improve our country’s transportation system and cure it of its ills.

So, keep your mobile phone cameras ready (when you’re not behind the wheel of a vehicle, of course), and continue sharing violations and reckless acts online. Doing so could alert authorities and help hold irresponsible motorists accountable.



Red Santiago

A jack of all trades, Red is passionate about cars, motorcycles and audio. He sometimes drives for a ride-hailing app company—just because he really loves driving.



Comments