If you’re a motorist in Metro Manila, knowing the top traffic violations and their corresponding penalties is crucial if you want to avoid fines, license suspensions, and road hassles.
Amid the re-implementation of the no-contact apprehension policy (NCAP), the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has released a list of the top 20 traffic violations and corresponding penalties that motorists commit daily.
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As compiled by the agency’s Traffic Ticket Management Division from January to April 2025, the most common violations range from ignoring traffic signs and number-coding rules to illegal parking and reckless driving, all of which contribute to the city’s congestion and road-safety issues.
Below, we break down some of the most frequently committed traffic violations in Metro Manila that are relevant to our readers, their updated penalties, and some tips that new drivers might find useful. Stay informed and be warned.
1) License-related violations
The failure to carry/show/surrender a driver’s license, which refers to driving a motor vehicle without physically carrying a copy of your valid license, carries a P150 fine for all offenses.
If you have an electronic driver’s license (eDL) rather than a physical one, you must be able to access it through your LTMS portal account and present it upon request by law enforcement. Not sure how to do this? Check out our guide on how to access your electronic driver’s license on the LTMS portal.
Take note that “failure to carry a driver’s license” is completely different from “driving without a valid license,” which carries a stiffer penalty of P3,000 plus the possibility of your vehicle being towed and impounded. The latter violation also applies to driving with an expired, suspended, revoked, improper, or fake license.
2) Violations related to following traffic signs and signals
Disregarding road signs, or a driver’s failure to follow instructions or visual warnings conveyed by traffic signs, is among the most commonly committed traffic violations cited by the MMDA. This includes illegal turning, failure to give proper signal, disregarding traffic signs, and the like.
- Illegal turning – P150 for all offenses
- Failure to give proper signal – P150 for all offenses
- Disregarding traffic signs – P1,000 for all offenses
According to the Metro Manila Traffic Code of 2023, disregarding traffic signs could also apply to ignoring the prescribed speed limits, stop signs, yield signs, and no-left-turn signs. It could also refer to the failure to give proper signals when turning or changing lanes, or not yielding the right-of-way to emergency vehicles.
3) Reckless driving violations
Another commonly cited violation in the country is reckless driving, which refers to careless driving behavior that significantly endangers the driver, passengers, and the public. It has the corresponding penalties:
- First offense – P1,000
- Second offense – P1,000 with seminar
- Third offense – P2,000 with seminar
Reckless driving violations include actions like overspeeding, sudden braking, tailgating, improper lane changes, or not considering the traffic situation, road width, crossing or pedestrian, curves, grades, visibility, and any other highway, weather, and atmospheric conditions. It also covers road rage and causing direct or possible harm to people and animals, as well as damage to property.
4) Number-coding violations
The Unified Vehicle Volume Reduction Program (UVVRP), or more commonly known as the Number Coding Scheme, is a traffic management strategy that restricts the use of major roads by vehicles based on the last digit of their license plates during specific hours on weekdays. It carries a fine of P500 for all offenses.
In case you just bought a new vehicle, here are the days you’re prohibited from using it:
- Monday – vehicles with plate numbers ending in 1 and 2
- Tuesday – vehicles with plate numbers ending in 3 and 4
- Wednesday – vehicles with plate numbers ending in 5 and 6
- Thursday – vehicles with plate numbers ending in 7 and 8
- Friday – vehicles with plate numbers ending in 9 and 0
Exemptions to this rule under the Metro Manila Traffic Code of 2023 include public utility vehicles (including tricycles), transportation network vehicles or TNVs, motorcycles, garbage trucks, fuel trucks, ambulances, fire trucks, registered and marked government vehicles, marked media vehicles, motor vehicles carrying essential or perishable goods, electric vehicles, and hybrid vehicles.
5) Parking and obstruction violations
Several parking-related violations, which can cause obstructions and traffic congestion on main highways, are also included among the top traffic violations cited by the MMDA. The following penalties are being imposed:
- Storage fee (impounded vehicles) – P80/day
- Stalled vehicle – P200 for all offenses
- Obstruction – P1,000 for all offenses
- Loading/unloading in a prohibited zone – P1,000 for all offenses
- Attended illegal parking – P1,000 for all offenses
- Unattended illegal parking – P2,000 with impoundment
Under Philippine law, obstruction refers to hindering the normal traffic flow on major thoroughfares while dropping off passengers or unloading goods. This could be caused by double parking, blocking the movement of other vehicles by loading and unloading in no-loading zones, or driving in a way that obstructs the passage of vehicles behind. And yes, while it may seem unfair, vehicles that stall or break down are still subject to penalties.
What is illegal parking, you might ask? In case you didn’t know, drivers are not allowed to park their vehicles or wait, whether attended or unattended, in the following places:
- At an intersection
- Within five meters of an intersection
- Four meters from a driveway entrance
- Within four meters of a fire hydrant
- In front of a private driveway
- On the roadway side of any unmoving or parked motor vehicle at the curb or edge of the highway
- At any place where signs of prohibitions have been installed
Additionally, vehicles are not allowed to park anywhere along the Mabuhay Lanes or alternative routes around Metro Manila that were designed to allow motorists to bypass major corridors like EDSA and other congested areas. Check out the exact routes of the Mabuhay Lanes here.
6) Violations related to driver attire
Not following the proper dress codes while driving, particularly for motorcycle riders, is also cited among the common traffic violations in the country.
- Driving in slippers – P100 for all offenses
- No driver’s uniform – P100 for all offenses
- Dress code for motorcycle riders – P500 for the first offense, P750 for the second offense, P1,000 for the third offense
- No crash helmet – P1,500 for the first offense, P3,000 for the second offense, P5,000 for the third offense, P10,000 with confiscation for the fourth offense
Under the Metro Manila Traffic Code of 2023, all drivers and pillion passengers should wear standard protective motorcycle helmets and closed-toe shoes while riding a motorcycle. Check out our full guide to the motorcycle dress code in the Philippines for specifics.
The LTFRB has also reminded public utility drivers, particularly taxi and jeepney drivers, about wearing proper driver’s uniforms for professionalism. Under the Public Transport Modernization Program and Department Order No. 2017-011 of the Department of Transportation, all PUV drivers, conductors, and inspectors are required to wear proper uniform while on duty. Sleeveless shirts, T-shirts, slippers, and sandals are not allowed.
7) Equipment and safety compliance violations
Other common violations include the proper use of vehicle equipment such as seatbelts, and ensuring that all motor vehicle accessories are in good working condition.
- Defective motor vehicle accessories – P1,000 for all offenses
- Failure to use seatbelt – P1,000 for the first offense, P2,000 for the second offense, P5,000 plus one-week suspension for the third offense
Some examples of faulty or unauthorized accessories, devices, equipment, and parts include non-compliant headlights and taillights, faulty side mirrors, broken windshields, damaged mufflers, and the like. Defective components could endanger not only the driver of the vehicle and their passengers but also other motorists.
At the end of the day, staying informed about these rules of the road shouldn’t just be about dodging fines. Complying with traffic rules and regulations should help instill a more disciplined driving culture and make our streets safer, traffic flow better, and driving a little less stressful for everyone.
