One of the things that grind the gears of citizens when they apply for a student’s permit or renew a driver’s license is the cost of the medical examination, which most people see as an outright scam due to how much it usually costs.

According to the Land Transportation Office, there have been reports of people being charged anywhere from P500 to P700 for the examination in order to receive a medical certificate, one of the requirements for a driver’s license.

This is why the outgoing LTO chief Jay Art Tugade has signed a memorandum circular to cap the maximum prescribed rates at P300 per transaction.

This applies to all accredited medical clinics and health facilities that perform the needed examinations for the application for a student driver’s permit; the application for a nonprofessional driver’s license and a conductor’s license; and for those looking to upgrade their licenses to professional.

For those clinics that will violate the circular, the first offense will have a 90-day suspension and a P10,000 fine, with the second offense being penalized with a 180-day suspension and a P15,000 fine. The third offense will revoke the clinic’s accreditation.

This is just one of the many things that the LTO has done in the past to reduce the financial impact of driver’s license applications and renewals, including removing the need for periodic medical examinations and implementing a driving school price cap. Are you for these changes?