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 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 peso 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.

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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
Driving with delinquent, invalid. suspended, ineffectual, revoked
2 P 300.00 Driver
or improper license
Failure to show or surrender driver’s license for cause upon due
P 150.00 Driver
3 demand by person with authority to confiscate.
Failure to carry driver’s license when Operating motor vehicle. P 150.00 Driver
Failure to sign driver’s license P 150.00 Driver
Driving while under the influence of Liquor or prohibited drug P 2,000.00 Driver
Fine plus 1 year
For the 2nd offense, Driver
4 Suspension
Revocation of
Subsequent violation
driver’s license
5 Allowing an unlicensed/improperly licensed person to drive MV P 750.00 Owner/Operator
Possession and use of fake driver’s 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.
6 P 1500.00 Driver
If the driver has not been issued an authentic license, he shall
not be qualified to secure driver’s license for a period of six (6)
months in addition to the fine
Allowing another person to use his driver’s license –
7 P 500.00 Driver
confiscation and suspension for one (1) month
Use and involvement of MV by the driver in the commission of a
8 crime-in case of court conviction, automatic revocation of P 1500.00 Driver
driver’s license.
Student Driver operating a MV without being accompanied by a
9 P 200.00 Student Driver
licensed driver.

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

C. Violations relating to number plates and stickers.

MV number plates not firmly attached and visible. Dirty or
uncared for plates.
16 P 150.00 Driver
Inconspicuously displaced plates in front and rear. NO
STICKER showing current Registration
License plates different from body Operator number on Public
17 P 450.00 Owner
Utility Vehicle
Improper display of MV plates by owner (permanent) plates to
18 P 500.00 Owner
accommodate a better display of commemorative/other plates.
19 Display of expired commemorative/other plates P 200.00 Owner
20 Tampered/Marked plates/stickers P 300.00 Owner
a. Illegal transfer and use of MV plates/tags or stickers from 1 month Driver
one MV to another except security plates on authorized vehicle suspension of
Owner/Operator are conclusively presumed to have caused or driver’s license.
permit such illegal transfer and liable to fine.
21 Driver of MV involved in illegal transfer of plates P 7500.00 Owner
P 10000.00
Penalty plus
b. If MV is used and involved in commission of a crime, Driver/Owner
motor vehicle
impounded.

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D. Violations relative to equipment, parts, accessories, devices and marking
of a motor vehicle
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,
22 Missing or red rear lights at both/each, side visible at least 100m P 150.00 each Driver
from vehicle,
Missing or defective plate light,
Missing or defective brake lights,
Missing or defective wiper on the windshield,
Missing cut/disconnected muffler.
Dirty/unsightly or dilapidated MV. In addition, confiscation of
23 P 150.00 Owner/Operator
plates until defects are corrected
Failure to paint or improper painting of authorized route or
24 P 375.00 Owner/Operator
painting of unauthorized route of PUJ
P 150.00
Confiscation of
25 Non-painting of business or trade name. plates until Owner
defects are
corrected.
a. Use of unauthorized improvised plates P 150.00
26 Owner
b. Use of improvised plates to make MV appear as for hire. P 1,500.00
a. Dirty and/or unsanitary defective unit
b. Without/defective hand brakes
c. Without or defective speedometer or tachometer
27 d. Defective or broken windshield P 150.00 Owner/Operator
e. Without or defective windshield wiper
f. Without rear view mirror
g. Without interior light
P 150.00
Confiscation of
Without name or business name and address inscribed on
28 plates until Owner/Operator
both sides of MV used for public services.
proper markings
are made.
29 Without spare tire P 150.00 Owner/Operator
P 150.00
Said gadgets
30 Unauthorized bell sirens or exhausts whistle on emergency. Owner/Operator
shall be
confiscated.
Without red flag or red lights on projecting end of load
31 extending more than a meter beyond the bed or body and in P 150.00 Driver
the evening, red lights visible at least 50 meters away
Failure to paint appropriate body number on a MV for hire on
32 P 375.00 Owner/Operator
both sides
a. Failure to carry EWD P 100.00 Driver
33 b. Failure to install EWD 4 meters away to the front and rear P 300.00 Driver
of the stalled/disabled MV.
34 Without capacity markings P 150.00 Owner/Operator
Failure to wear safety belt while operating motor vehicle or P 1000.00
35 Owner/Operator
while riding on front passenger seat P 300.00
Without permanent tail gauge or failure to put “NOT FOR
36 P 300.00 Owner
HIRE” sign in a private jeepney/jitney

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E. Violations relative to weights and load limits.
37 Load extending beyond projected width without permit 200.00 Driver
a. Operating MV with wheel axle, or axle group loads in
excess of the limits in Sec. 9, RA 4136 or any regulation P 150.00 Driver
without permit.
b. Operating MV with total weight of cargo carrying device on
P 150.00 Driver
passenger truck including cargo exceeding 100 kilos.
38 Driver (If PUV,
c. Allowing more passengers and/or more freight or cargo in
P 150.00 imposed upon
his vehicle more than the registered carrying capacity.
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 P 150.00 Driver/Conductor
endanger the passenger or stability of the truck.

F. Violations relative to frauds and falsities

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

G. Violations related to parking and drivers

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
42 P 150.00 each Driver
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
Reckless Driving
- 1st Offense P 150.00
43 Driver
- 2nd Offense and suspension of Driver’s License P 750.00
- 3rd Offense and revocation of Driver’s License P 1000.00
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
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
47 ambulance P 100.00 Driver
Hitching or permitting a person on a bicycle or roller skates to
hitch
to the vehicle.
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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
Failure to stop motor vehicle and apply handbrake when
67 P 150.00 Driver
unattended
68 Causing an obstruction to traffic P 150.00 Driver

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 TOOLS AGAINST MMDA OFFICERS

I just reached my limit last weekend, and decided to take action against the
abusive MMDA enforcers. I basically called up the MMDA head office and
inquired from the Personnel Officer, Antonio Pagulayan, to clarify their
policies. Here is what I got:

If any of these abuses seem familiar to you, Mr. Pagulayan has asked that you
call either the MMDA hotline (136) or call the METRO BASE at 0920 9389861
or 0920 9389875 and ask for an Inspectorate. They will send inspectors to the
place where these MMDA officers are extorting, even while you are arguing
out of your apprehension. DO NOT JUST SURRENDER YOUR RIGHT AND
PAY OFF THE MMDA TRAFFIC OFFICER, CHALLENGE (if you have sound
basis of course) THE TRAFFIC CITATION:

1. MMDA officers are not allowed to group together in order to apprehend.

They are not even allowed to stand together in groups of 2 or more. The
only time they are allowed to work together is for special operations
(probably when they apprehend groups of buses for smoke belching).

2. Swerving IS NOT a traffic violation. Moving one lane to the left or right is
not swerving, no matter where on the road you do it. And it is even less
of a violation when you do it with a signal. Swerving is defined as
shifting 2 or more lanes very quickly. So you can argue your way out of
this, and call the Metro Base for help.

3. Sadly, using the yellow lane is a traffic violation and will get you a ticket.
However, buses are really not allowed to go out of the yellow lane, so if
you see selective apprehension of private cars only, you may complain.

4. MMDA has confirmed that your license MAY NOT BE CONFISCATED

at a traffic apprehension. The only time they can do so is if you are part
of an accident, or it is your third violation and you have not settled your
fines yet. They are only allowed to give you a ticket, which you can
contest. He recommends actually receiving the ticket in some instances,
so that you can report the officer who did it.

5. Also, you are free to ask any of these officers for their "mission order",
which is written by their supervisor. If they apprehend you for a violation
that is not in their mission order for the day, you can report them and
they will receive disciplinary action.

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 Must Know: MMDA rules on Car Number-Coding

1. No window hours: Makati, Malabon and Las Pinas. Number Coding is

in effect from 7am to 7pm!

2. No number coding: Taguig, Muntinlupa, Marikina and Paranaque. So,

feel free to roam around these cities anytime.

3. Pasig City has window hours of 9am to 4pm (note the 1 hour
additional to the normal 10-3pm window).

4. Pasay City is implementing Number Coding except on the following

roads: Ninoy Aquino Avenue, MIA Road, Domestic Road, Portions of
Airport Road, Sales Road, Tramo.

5. EDSA, C5, Pres. Diosdado Macapagal Avenue, Roxas Blvd (Pasay),

all other National, City, and Municipal Roads have window hours
regardless of the city (meaning one can drive via EDSA in Makati any
day).

For the rest of Metro Manila (Caloocan, Mandaluyong, Manila, Navotas,

parts of Pasay, Pateros, Quezon City, San Juan, and Valenzuela)
number coding is in effect (window hours of 10am-3pm is also
observed).