Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

ont
House Bilt No,__ 98144

Introduced by Representative Tobias "Toby" M. Tiangco

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This proposed Bill seeks to improve traffic management by declaring as a policy
the adoption of “no physical contact” through the use of new technologies, such as
digital cameras or closed circuit television cameras and other electronic devices as well
as strengthen traffic operation and management by providing for an efficient and
operational traffic law that will harmonize seemingly overlapping laws and authorities
through the establishment of a single traffic ticketing system.

There is a need to establish and implement a single traffic ticketing system that
would respect the mandate of national and government units, and at the same time be
recognized by different traffic enforcement authorities, including various local
government units.

Through the passage of this Bill, a uniform single traffic ticketing system to be
used by the different traffic enforcement authorities nationwide shall be established,
thereby ensuring order and coordination in the implementation of traffic laws, as well
as promote the interests of all motorists, drivers, owners and operators of public utility
and private vehicles.

On the other hand, the adoption of a “no physical contact” policy aims to
minimize the occurrence of physical apprehension and improve the flow of traffic.

There would also be a consolidated system of monitoring traffic violations across
local government units, regardless of whether such violation is committed in the
presence of traffic enforcers or caught by way of digital cameras or other electronic
devices.

The adoption of these measures will translate to smoother traffic flow, ease and
convenience in enforcing and following traffic laws and ordinances and thereby
increase the effectiveness of traffic law enforcement.

For these reasons, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought. hy

TOBIAS “Toby” M. TIANGCO


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

acts
House nit wo,__ 8544

Introduced by Representative Tobias “Toby” M. Tiangco

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
assembled:

AN ACT TO IMPROVE AND STRENGTHEN THE TRAFFIC SYSTEM BY ESTABLISHING
A SINGLE TRAFFIC TICKETING SYSTEM
AND ADOPTING A NO PHYSICAL CONTACT POLICY

Section 1. Title. - This Act shall be known as the “An act to improve and strengthen the
traffic system by establishing a single traffic ticketing system and adopting a no physical
contact policy.”

Sec.

. Declaration of Policy. ~

a. Itis hereby declared the policy of the State to maintain peace and order and to
promote the general welfare of the people. It is also the policy of the State to
ensure the autonomy of local government and to promote efficiency and fairness
in the implementation of traffic laws and ordinances,

b. To provide better services to owners, operators, drivers, motorists and the
riding public, a uniform single traffic ticketing system shall be used and honored
all over the country.

Apprehension of traffic violations using digital cameras, closed circuit television
cameras (CCTV), and other new technologies or electronic devices such as, but
not limited to radio frequency identification (RFID), installed in strategic areas
by traffic enforcement authorities is an effective system of instilling discipline to
motorists, reduces the occurrence of graft and corruption and improves the flow
of traffic. Hence, the “no physical contact policy’ through the use of new
technologies shall be implemented nationwide to further improve and
strengthen traffic management and operation.


Sec. 3. Definition of Terms. ~

Deputizing Agent - shall refer to:

(1) the Land Transportation Office (LTO), which has the authority to deputize
their own LTO enforcers, Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Metro Manila
Development Authority (MMDA) or

(2) the Local Government Unit that enacted their respective local traffic
ordinances and/or traffic code in accordance with the Republic Act No. 7160 or
the Local Government Code, which has the authority to deputize their own local
traffic enforcers;

Duly deputized agent ~ shall refer to the LTO, MMDA, the PNP and/or the local
traffic enforcers of the LGUs;

License Validity Strip (LV Strip) - shall refer to a hologram strip, which is
attached to a Driver's License as an identifying mark of the validity of the license.
Whenever a traffic violation is committed, the LV strip is to be removed by the
trattic enforcer. It shall be replaced only upon satisfaction of the corresponding
fines and penalties incident to the violation/s. A driver's license without an LV
Strip creates the presumption that there was a previous traffic violation whose
penalties have not yet been satisfied.

e
Local Government Units ~ shall refer to cities which have been empowered by
Section 458(5)(vi) and (5)(vii) of Republic Act No. 7160, otherwise known as the
Local Government Code, to enact ordinances for the regulation of traffic within
their respective jurisdictions and which shall have the AUTHORITY TO
DEPUTIZE THE LOCAL TRAFFIC ENFORCERS WITHIN ITS JURISDICTION.

‘Traffic Enforcement Authority - shall refer to LTO, MMDA, the LGUs and the PNP.

Uniform Traffic Violation Receipt (UTVR) - shall refer to the receipt that is
printed, issued and distributed by the LTO to the traffic enforcement agencies
and their duly deputized agents. The UTVR shall contain a list of general
violations under the Land Transportation and Traffic Code, as well as the
checklist of local traffic ordinances.

Sec. 4. Uniform Traffic Violation Receipt. - All UTVRs issued to the different traffic
enforcement agencies shall be centrally monitored by the LTO.

All LGUs shall provide the LTO with a list of traffic violations applicable to their
respective localities. ‘The 1:70 shall print separate UTVRs per local government unit, in
accordance with the list of traffic violations and corresponding fines submitted by the
latter. The LTO shall ensure that all UTVRs, regardless of local government unit, are
uniformly formatted and centrally numbered.


‘The LTO shall be the sole government office or agency authorized to print, issue and
distribute a UTVR to the traffic enforcement authorities. The UTVR shall be in triplicate
such that the apprehended driver, the traffic enforcement authority and the LTO shall
have their respective copies.

Sec. 5. License Validity Strip (LV Strip). - An LV Strip is to be attached by the LTO to
the driver's license upon renewal thereof. The LV Strip shall be valid for the same
period as the validity of the driver's license. Each time the LV Strip is replaced by the
LTO as a consequence of a previous traffic violation that has already been settled, it
shall be valid only for the remaining validity period of the existing driver's license.

‘The absence of an LV Strip creates a presumption that the LV Strip was removed by duly
deputized traffic enforcer as a result of a traffic violation committed by the driver,
A damaged, lost, or accidentally detached LV Strip should be replaced immediately.

If a driver is caught driving without an LV Strip attached to his driver's license and
without presenting a UTVR, he/she shall be considered as driving without license, and
shall be punished accordingly.

‘The LTO shall, within three (3) months from the effectivity of this Act, produce LV strips
for distribution to all Local LTOs nationwide. All drivers are given a grace period of one
(1) year from availability of the LV Strips to have LV Strips attached to their driver’s
licenses. The single traffic ticketing system under Section 6 of this Act shall be
implemented after the one (1) year grace period. rm

Sec. 6. Single Traffic Ticketing System. - The Single Traffic Ticketing System shall
have the following procedures:

a. Verification of the Driver’s License LV Strip. ~ Upon violation of any traffic law,
rules and regulation pursuant to and consistent with national laws, or any local
traffic ordinance, the driver shall be asked by the duly deputized traffic enforcer
to display his driver's license.

‘The traffic enforcer shall check whether the driver's license has an LV Strip.
If the driver's license has an LV Strip, the LV Strip shall be removed by the traffic
enforcer. If there was an LV strip removed from the license, it must be attached
to the UTVR.

The absence of an LV Strip on a driver's license creates a presumption that the
driver has a previous traffic violation whose attendant fines or penalties have
not yet been satisfied. The traffic enforcer shall demand that the UTVR of the
previous traffic violation be shown by the driver.

If the driver cannot present his UTVR, he shall be considered as driving without a
license, be issued a UTVR for this offense and not be allowed to continue driving,
If he is accompanied by another person who has a valid driver's license, that
other person can drive the vehicle, otherwise the vehicle should be impounded
for safekeeping until such time that a person with a valid driver's license will
drive it.


b. Assessment of the penalties applicable. - Based on the UTVR presented, the traffic
enforcer shall determine whether the period to pay the fines or penalties
incident to the previous traffic violation has already expired,

If such period has already expired, there shall be an additional penalty of One
‘Thousand Pesos (P1,000.00).

©. Issuance of the UTVR. ~ The particular offense and corresponding fines and
penalties which are printed on the UTVR will be marked by the traffic enforcer.

‘The UTVR shall be recognized as valid by all traffic enforcement authorities and
their duly deputized agents for a period of three (3) working days from the time
the violation was made, as indicated in the UTVR.

If there are additional penalties applicable because of failure to pay the previous
traffic penalties incident to an expired UTVR, these additional penalties shall be
identified on the UTVR.

4. Encoding of the UTVRs into the Single Traffic Ticketing System of the LTO. - At the
end of every working shift of the duly deputized traffic enforcement agent, all
UTVRs shall be brought to the respective offices for encoding in a common
system operated and monitored by the LTO.

€. Payment of fines and penalties under the UTVR. - The traffic violatof shall pay the
fines and penalties identified in the UTVR in any LTO nationwide or any bank
authorized by the LTO within 3 days. Upon payment, a new LV strip will be
attached to the driver's license.

Sec. 7. Multiple Traffic Violations. ~ Additional UTVRs shall be issued by other duly
deputized agents for each additional offense or violation committed by the driver.
At the end of every working shift of the duly deputized traffic enforcement agent, this
UTVR shall likewise be brought to the respective offices for encoding in a common
system operated and monitored by the LTO.

The additional penalty of One Thousand Pesos (PhP 1,000.00) which has accrued
because of failure to pay previous UTVR fines shall accumulate until they are paid or
upon the renewal of the driver's license.

Sec. 8. No Physical Contact. - The implementation of the “no physical contact” policy
shall conform to the following procedure:

a. Apprehension of erring motorists. - The image of the vehicle violating the traffic
law, rules and regulation pursuant to and consistent with national laws, or any
local traffic ordinance shall be recorded or captured thru the use of digital
cameras and/or other technologies. This shall be applied to all
owners/motorists/drivers of vehicles.


b. First Notice. - A First Notice shall be signed by the authorized representative of
the traffic enforcer and the cameraman / IT personnel who took/shot the
pictures thru the use of digital cameras and/or recorded the violation thru new
technologies or other electronic devices, shall be issued to the owner/traffic
violator of the vehicle. The first notice shall indicate and contain the following:

1. a photo-clip of the apprehended vehicle or a computer generated proof of

violation

date, time, location, traffic violation(s)/infractions committed, the

assessed fines/penalties therefore;

3. a statement that the traffic violator shall have the right to file a protest
before the appropriate traffic adjudication board of the traffic
enforcement agency within seven (7) days from receipt thereof and that
failure to file the same within the prescribed period shall be deemed a
waiver of such right and shall be construed as an admission of the traffic
violation(s) cited there

4. the appropriate traffic adjudication board shall resolve the case within
seven (7) days from receipt of the protest and its decision shall be
deemed final and executory;

c. Presumption. - There is created a presumption that the registered owner of the
apprehended vehicle is the driver at the time the traffic violation is committed.
‘The registered owner may rebut this presumption by filing a protest and
identifying the identity of the driver in an affidavit executed undefoath with the
traffic adjudication board of the traffic enforcement agency that issued the First
Notice.

d. Payment and protest of the First Notice - Payment of fines/penalties shall be
made within seven (7) days upon receipt of the first notice, unless a protest was
filed by the traffic violator as provided for pursuant to the preceding paragraph;

Assessed fines or penalties and all charges indicated in the first notice shall be
paid at any LTO nationwide or any bank authorized by the LTO unless a protest
is filed before the traffic adjudication board of the traffic enforcement agency.
Upon final decision of the traffic adjudication board, the driver has three (3)
days to pay the fine.

¢. Final Notice. -After the lapse of the 7-day prescriptive period, there being no
protest filed and the fines/penalties remain unpaid, a final notice to pay/settle
the same shall be issued, which must be paid in three (3) days.

f. Manner and time of sending notices. - Notices shall be sent thru registered mail or
courier service either by government or private service provider by the traffic
enforcement agency within seventy two (72) hours from occurrence of the
violation;

& Refusal to receive tender of notice. - Traffic violators/owners/operators who
refuse to receive or accept, without any valid reason, the notice issued to them



shall be deemed to have received the same, and shall comply with the provisions
of paragraph d above;

h. Failure to settle the final notice - If the traffic violator/owner/operator failed to
settle or pay the assessed fines or penalties within three (3) days from receipt of
the final notice with any I-TO nationwide or any bank authorized by the LTO, the
driver's license number or vehicle license plate number shall be encoded in the
common system operated and monitored by the LTO with a request that the
registration of the same shall not be renewed until the penalties or fines are fully
settled. Further, an additional penalty shall be imposed at the rate of ten percent
(10%) of the unpaid fine per month until the same is paid or upon the renewal of
the driver's license or vehicle registration.

Sec, 9, Fines and Penalties Imposed. - Fines and penalties shall be in accordance with
those provided under any traffic law, rules and regulation pursuant to and consistent
with national laws, or any local traffic ordinance, that are imposed by the apprehending
traffic enforcement authority without prejudice to the application of the additional
penalties incurred as a result of failure to pay the UTVRs and violations under the no
physical contact policy. PROVIDED THAT: THE DEPUTIZED AGENT PNP AND MMDA
SHALL IMPOSE THE FINES AND PENALTIES BASED ON NATIONAL LAW WHILE LOCAL
TRAFFIC ENFORCERS OF THE LGU CONCERNED SHALL BE BASED ON THEIR
RESPECTIVE TRAI CODES OR ORDINANCES; Provided further that, Section 10 of
this Act shall apply in determining the share of the traffic enforcement agencies trom
the fines and penalties collected.

Sec. 10. Share of the Traffic Enforcement Authority from the fines and Penalties
Imposed. - The share of the traffic enforcement authority from the fines and penalties
collected shall be distributed in the following manner.

a. Between the LTO and concerned LGU
i LTO-Ten percent (10%)
ii, LGU where the driver was apprehended ~ Ninety percent (90%)

b. Between the LTO and MMDA
i. LTO- Ten percent (10%)
ii, MMDA-Ninety percent (90%)

Sec. 11. Budget and Revolving Fund, - Section 7 of Republic Act No. 8794 provides for
a Special Local Road Fund which shall be used for traffic management, among others.
For this purpose, they may assign parts of the Special Local Road Fund to the 1.TO for
printing of the UTVRs.

All shares of fines that accrue to the different departments, agencies and LGUs shall be
part of a revolving fund to be spent as per Section 7 of Republic Act No.8794. ‘The funds
can also be used for any purpose that will be intended to achieve the efficient
implementation of this law, such as but not limited to printing of the UTVR and LV strip,
purchase of IT equipment to interconnect all agencies involved, purchase of IT



equipment or electronic devices to enhance the “no contact capability” and efficiency of
traffic implementation,

Sec. 12. Deputization of Traffic Enforcement Authorities. - The LTO and LGUs shall,
within one (1) week from the effectivity of this Act, deputize the traffic enforcement
authorities and their officers to confiscate licenses when so warranted by other existing
national traffic laws and regulations.

Sec. 13. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Department of Transportation
and Communications (DOTC), in consultation and coordination with the LTO, the MMDA
and the LGUs, shall promulgate the rules and regulations necessary to effectively
implement the provisions of this Act within ninety (90) days from its effectivity.

Sec. 14. Separability Clause. - If any part of provision of this Act shall be held
unconstitutional or invalid, other provisions hereof that are not affected thereby shall
continue to be in full force and effect.

Sec. 15. Repealing Clause. - Section 29 of Republic Act No. 4136, otherwise known as
the “Land Transportation and Traffic Code”; Section 7 of Republic Act No. 8794 or the
Road User's Tax Law" and Section 5 (f) of Republic Act No. 7924, entitled “An Act
Creating the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, Defining its Powers and
Functions, Providing Funds Therefor and For Other Purposes” are to the extent
inconsistent with this Act, modified accordingly. All laws, rules and regulations, and
executive order which are inconsistent with this Act are repealed or modified
accordingly. w

Se. 16. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in at least two (2) national newspapers of general circulation.

Approved.