In 2024, the Land Transportation Office (LTO) revoked almost 1,000 driver’s licenses for various offenses and traffic violations. Thanks to the frenzy of viral videos being monitored by the agency’s social media team and reported by netizens, we have a hunch that the number will be higher this year.
In recent months, we’ve seen a LOT of irresponsible, reckless and abusive motorists having their driver’s licenses either suspended or revoked as the Land Transportation Office (LTO) and the Department of Transportation (DOTr) crack down aggressively on bad drivers.
While some incidents are a result of unfortunate accidents, many reveal that Filipino drivers simply don’t know what’s right and wrong on the road—or they just don’t care.
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Blame it on this culture of content creation and chasing views, but every week, it seems that there’s some new viral video showcasing crazy and wildly irresponsible driving on our roads. From letting a ‘baby driver’ take the wheel in a mall parking lot to performing a viral boat dance challenge on top of a motorcycle stuck in traffic, what haven’t Pinoy drivers done?
Frankly, every time an irresponsible driver is caught, we can’t help but think they deserve the backlash and punishment for endangering not only their own safety but also that of others.
While suspensions are temporary and can be lifted after a certain time period, revocation of licenses comes with stiffer penalties. It means that anyone whose license is revoked cannot drive legally in the country. Revocation means the offender has to apply for a license again after a prescribed two to three-year period.
In case you’re wondering, here are some grounds for driver’s license revocation in the Philippines and bad driving behaviors that you should definitely avoid. You have been warned.
1) Driving under the influence of dangerous substances
One of the most common reasons for revoking a driver’s license is violations of Republic Act 10586 (Anti-Drunk and Drugged Driving Act), which includes driving under the influence of alcohol, illegal drugs/substances, and refusal to subject oneself to a mandatory alcohol test during a road crash.
This applies mainly to professional driver’s license (PDL) holders guilty of the charge. Meanwhile, non-professional driver’s license (NPDL) holders usually only get a twelve (12) month suspension on the first conviction, with perpetual revocation only after being found guilty of committing the same act.
Earlier this year, several bus drivers and conductors got their licenses revoked after testing positive in random drug tests. LTO Chief Assistant Secretary Atty. Vigor D. Mendoza II explained the penalties are usually stiffer for professional drivers because of their higher responsibilities on the road.
“In the case of these people, mas matindi ang requirement ng obligasyon sa kanila dahil they are driving and catering to the public transportation needs,” he said.
2) Reckless driving
Reckless driving is one of the most commonly committed driving violations in the country. While non-professional driver’s license holders can usually settle the first few offenses with fines, repeat offenders get a license revocation plus a fine of P10,000 imposed on the fourth offense.
Again, professional driver’s license holders face a stiffer penalty for the same violation of reckless driving. Fourth offenses come with perpetual revocation of license and perpetual disqualification from getting any type of driver’s license on top of the fine amounting to P10,000.
Remember when a former cop threatened a cyclist with a gun during a road rage incident a few years ago? Back then, the LTO revoked his license and barred him from reapplying for two years, citing reckless driving, obstruction, and operating to commit a crime.
Meanwhile, the viral motorist who recently counterflowed on Skyway got his license revoked for life.
“Hindi pu-puwede na suspendido lang ang lisensiya ng driver na ito dahil kitang kita naman sa CCTV footage na inilagay niya sa peligro ang buhay ng mga driver ng kasalubong niyang sasakyan,” said DOTr secretary Vince Dizon following the incident.
“Ipinag-utos ko na i-revoke na nang tuluyan ang driver’s license ng pasaway na driver na ito nang hindi na pamarisan ang reckless driving niya.”
3) Violation of the Anti-Distracted Driving Act
Do you still use your mobile phone while driving? By now, you should know that phones, unless mounted, shouldn’t be used beyond navigation and emergencies. Despite this, we continue to see a lot of cases of mobile phone usage for content creation and gaming while driving.
ICYDK, violation of the Anti-Distracted Driving Act in the Philippines imposes penalties for distracted driving. This law prohibits motorists from using communication devices and other electronic entertainment and computing gadgets while vehicles are in motion or temporarily stopped on a traffic light or an intersection.
The fines increase for each subsequent offense but according to the DOTr, violations incurred beyond the third offense shall be penalized with the revocation of the driver’s license and a fine of P20,000.
4) Being deemed an ‘Improper person to operate a motor vehicle’
Under Section 27 (a) of R.A. No. 4136 or the Land Transportation and Traffic Code, the LTO can suspend or revoke a driver’s license if the driver is deemed to be an "improper person to operate a motor vehicle."
This broad violation, which is frequently mentioned in Show Cause Orders, can be used in cases where agencies have reason to believe the driver is unfit to operate a vehicle or if they’re using it in a way that endangers the public.
It’s usually linked with reckless driving, as seen in the case of a Porsche sports car driver who was creating content for social media and a motorcycle vlogger who succumbed to road rage. Both had their driver’s licenses suspended.
However, violations related to vehicle registration, overloading, unsafe towing, and even overcharging can deem a driver an improper operator and could lead to revocation with repeated offenses, especially for professional drivers.
Recently, several abusive taxi and TNVS drivers who overcharged passengers in NAIA had their licenses suspended and were asked to explain why they shouldn’t be revoked on the grounds of this violation.
5) Cheating or committing fraudulent acts while applying for a driver’s license
In 2024, a total of 130 driver’s licenses were revoked for violation of RA 4136, or the Land Transportation and Traffic Code, due to their “questionable ways of obtaining driver’s licenses.”
In case you didn’t know, falsification of documents to prove records and identity in applying or renewing licenses is a violation that could get your license revoked. If discovered, this violation could cause your license to be tagged for being procured on alarm. The same goes for “connivance with the officer in the irregular conduct of examinations or issuance of a license.”
Under RA 10930, the law that extended the validity of a driver’s license, aside from falsification of documents, other violations include having double licenses, forgery, and cheating during examinations.
When caught, errant drivers could be disqualified from driving a motor vehicle and getting a driver’s license for a period of one year. This period commences from the date of payment of the fine, which is P3,000.
6) Allowing unauthorized people to use your license
Be sure to keep your driver’s license safe at all times and never allow family members or friends to “borrow” your license for whatever reason, because you'll be the one to suffer. Transferring, lending or otherwise allowing any person other than the individual named on the license to use his/her license to operate a motor vehicle is not allowed and may end up in the revocation of the borrowed license.
7) Causing accidents or injuries resulting in death or severe harm
Revocation may also apply if the crash leads to death or debilitating injury. According to LTO, a driver’s license may be revoked “if a driver of a certain motor vehicle caused the death or any debilitating physical injury resulting in the loss of any part of the victim’s body or the use thereof, insanity, imbecility, impotence or blindness, or incapacity to work for more than 90 days.”
For instance, in a crash on Batasan-San Mateo Road last June, a truck driver who caused a fatal accident and was found positive for shabu use had his license revoked and was perpetually disqualified from reapplying.
8) Driving a motor vehicle used in the commission of a crime
Here’s another reason to make sure your secondhand vehicles have proper papers and are clean. Driving a vehicle used to commit a crime could result in the revocation of your license and a perpetual banning from getting a license. This is on top of a fine of P10,000 and impoundment of said vehicle.
9) Commission of a crime during apprehension
Additionally, according to Joint Administrative Order No. 2014-01, if a driver commits a crime during an apprehension, their driver’s license can be revoked. Upon conviction by a regular court, the license will be confiscated and revoked, and the driver will be disqualified from getting a new license for five years from the date of payment of fines and penalties. The vehicle may also be impounded, and a fine of P10,000 may be imposed.
10) Three consecutive violations of the same law within a year
Don’t think you’re safe just because your violations fall in what’s normally considered “minor violations,” such as forgetting to carry your driver’s license or OR/CR, or forgetting to put on a seatbelt.
According to LTO, driver’s licenses may be revoked for repeated violations of the same kind at least three times within the same year. “If a driver commits the same violations of offenses defined by Joint Administrative Order no. 2014-01 for three consecutive times within one year, the LTO Commissioner may impose either a suspension or a revocation of license upon his discretion.”
Some of the potential repeated violations include the following:
- Driving without a valid driver’s license
- Failing to wear the prescribed seatbelt
- Failing to wear the prescribed helmet for motorcycle riders
- Failing to carry a certificate of registration
- Failing to carry a driver’s license
- Violation of the Children’s Safety on Motorcycles Act of 2015
What other violations come (or should come) with driver’s license revocation? Let us know in the comments section.
