Only These People Can Seize Your Driver's License

It's crucial for every motorist in the Philippines to be aware of their rights, especially when it comes to traffic apprehensions. A common point of confusion revolves around who is actually authorized to confiscate a driver's license. The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) has made it explicitly clear: local traffic enforcement officers are strictly prohibited from confiscating your driver's license, even if you've committed a traffic violation. This means that if you are stopped by an LGU (Local Government Unit) traffic enforcer in Makati, or anywhere else in the Philippines, and they attempt to take your license, this procedure is not in accordance with the law. Only the Land Transportation Office (LTO) and their duly deputized agents possess the legal authority to seize a driver's license. Understanding this vital regulation can help protect your rights and ensure fair treatment on the road.

Why Centralized Authority Matters: Avoiding Chaos on Our Roads

The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) has made it unequivocally clear: the power to confiscate driver's licenses is a highly sensitive matter that must remain centralized. As DILG Secretary Benjamin "Benhur" Abalos Jr. rightly emphasized, if every local government unit (LGU) across the nation were granted the authority to seize driver's licenses, the outcome would undoubtedly be chaos.

Imagine a scenario where each city or municipality, from Makati to far-flung provinces, operated under its own rules for license confiscation. Motorists would face a confusing and potentially arbitrary landscape, never knowing whether their license was truly safe from being taken by a local enforcer, regardless of the severity of the violation. This fragmentation of authority would not only lead to widespread public confusion but also open the door to inconsistencies in enforcement, potential abuse of power, and a significant burden on drivers trying to retrieve their documents from numerous, disparate local offices.

By designating the Land Transportation Office (LTO) and its duly deputized agents as the sole entities with this power, the DILG ensures a standardized, accountable system. This unified approach prevents a patchwork of regulations that could cripple inter-LGU travel and erode public trust in traffic management. It underscores the principle that driver's licenses, as national documents, require national-level oversight for their confiscation.

Imagine mo papanhik ka ng Baguio. Nahuli ka bandang Mandaluyong, nakuha lisensya mo. So from Mandaluyong papuntang Baguio wala kang lisensya. Dala mo ‘yung ticket ng Mandaluyong. What if ‘yung ticket na ‘yun hindi irecognize ng Tarlac, Pampanga, lahat ng dadadaanan mo, Pangasinan or ng ibang LGU? (Imagine if you are going to Baguio and your license got confiscated in the area of Mandaluyong. So from Mandaluyong to Baguio you do not have a license. You only have the ticket issued in Mandaluyong. What if your ticket is not recognized in Tarlac, Pampanga, all of the provinces that you will pass through, in Pangasinan or other LGU?),’ —Abalos said.

I strongly support the Department of Interior and Local Government's (DILG) reiteration that only the Land Transportation Office (LTO) and its deputized agents are authorized to confiscate driver's licenses. This isn't about undermining local traffic enforcement; it's about maintaining crucial consistency in how our national laws are applied.

When regulations are clear and uniform across the board, motorists in Makati and everywhere else in the Philippines aren't left guessing. They know exactly what to expect and what their rights are during a traffic stop. This consistency eliminates confusion, which in turn fosters a more orderly and predictable environment on our roads. It also helps prevent potential disputes between drivers and enforcers, ultimately strengthening peace and order within our society.

Allowing every local government unit to develop its own rules for license confiscation would create a chaotic patchwork of regulations. Instead, a unified approach, consistent with national law, ensures fairness, transparency, and a more effective traffic management system for everyone.

Sources:

1. AutoDeal. (2022, September 21). [Scanned copy of DILG memorandum on the "RREITERATION OF PERTINENT PROVISIONS ON ROAD SAFETY AND TRANSPORTATION"]. Retrieved from https://d1hv7ee95zft1i.cloudfront.net/custom/blog-post-photo/gallery/dilg-memo-license-confiscation-632ad62e1cffc.jpg
2. Santos, J. (2022, September 23). LTO lauds DILG memo on confiscation of erring motorists' license [Blog post]. Retrieved from https://mb.com.ph/2022/09/23/lto-lauds-dilg-memo-on-confiscation-of-drivers-license-of-erring-motorists/
3. AutoIndustriya.com. (2022, September 21). DILG to LGUs: Only LTO can confiscate driver's licenses [Blog post]. Retrieved from https://www.autoindustriya.com/auto-industry-news/dilg-to-lgus-only-lto-can-confiscate-driver-s-licenses.html