Last week, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) issued a memorandum reiterating that only the Land Transportation Office (LTO) – the government agency that issues driver’s licenses (DL) to qualified drivers – and its deputized personnel, are the only ones lawfully allowed to confiscate a DL of a traffic violator.
The LTO and its parent agency, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) welcome the memo and say that the powers vested upon the LTO as the sole agency that can confiscate a driver’s license are within the provisions of RA 10930 and an earlier Supreme Court ruling.
“The agency believes that it [DILG memo] is in line with an earlier Supreme Court ruling and within the provisions stated under Republic Act 10930 that confiscation of a driver's license can only be done by the LTO.”
The DOTr and LTO statement added that “this step by the DILG stresses that only the LTO is the primary government agency mandated to enforce traffic laws as well as ensure that these laws are followed for the safety of the public.”
