There is a lot of confusion about who can actually take your driver’s license during a traffic stop. The DILG has been very clear: local traffic enforcers are strictly prohibited from confiscating your license. Even if you’ve committed a violation, an LGU enforcer in Makati—or anywhere else in the Philippines—cannot legally take your physical card. That authority belongs only to the LTO and their officially deputized agents. Knowing this simple rule is your best defense on the road.
Why One Rule for Everyone Makes Sense
The DILG has repeatedly emphasized that confiscating a driver’s license is a serious matter that should remain under the authority of the LTO and its officially deputized agents. According to former DILG Secretary Benhur Abalos Jr., allowing every city or municipality to confiscate licenses independently could create confusion and inconsistency for motorists traveling across different areas.
Imagine driving from Metro Manila to Baguio after your license was confiscated in one city. You would only be carrying a traffic citation while passing through several provinces and local government jurisdictions. If those areas followed different enforcement rules or failed to recognize the citation, it could create unnecessary complications for drivers.
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?),’ Benhur Abalos
Keeping the authority centralized under the LTO helps maintain consistent enforcement nationwide. Since a driver’s license is a national government-issued identification document, applying one uniform rule across the country makes the system easier for both motorists and traffic enforcers to follow.
Clear and standardized rules also help reduce confusion during traffic stops and minimize unnecessary disputes between drivers and local enforcers. In the long run, a unified system creates a more predictable and transparent traffic enforcement process for everyone on the road.
- 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
- 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/
- 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
