Can your license be confiscated?
I had a long talk last week with former LTO head Bert Suansing during the Isuzu Truck Show held at the World Trade Center. Our chat centered on the road safety advocacy that we both share and are very active with — he being presently the president of (name of organization) and also of SOPI or the Safety Organization of the Philippines, Incorporated and me with our Young Street Smarts Road Safety School Tour.
During the course of our conversation, I took the opportunity to find out what really is the rule regarding the confiscation of the license of drivers with traffic violation, one of the most “frequently asked questions” thrown my way. Being a former LTO head, I found it a given that my good friend Bert was an expert on such matters.
Assec Suansing categorically said, “Yes, a traffic violator’s driver’s license can be confiscated for any offence by any LTO deputized traffic enforcer. However, in exchange for the confiscated license a (TOP) or Temporary Operator’s Permit or a TVR or Traffic Violation Receipt (I’m sorry the actual name of the receipt escapes me at the moment) should be given to the erring driver to serve as his temporary driver’s license for 72 hours, the prescribed period given for him to pay the fine or have his case adjudicated.”
I don’t think it can be said any clearer but the important elements in this ruling are; first, the person of authority that is confiscating the driver’s license must be deputized by the LTO and should have the papers to prove such, second, a receipt should be given to serve as a temporary license until the erring driver submits him or herself to the apprehending office, and third, the traffic violator has only 72 hours to use the receipt as a temporary driver’s license.
I hope this finally puts the issue to rest.
A more expansive nationwide voting
With the participation of Caltex and Air21 in the 2011-2012 Auto Focus Automobile of the Year — People’s Choice Awards recently firmed up, this year’s voting to determine the most preferred models in each category and the most popular automobile, the “automobile of the year” in the country would definitely reflect the public’s choice from all over the Philippines.
We met with the newly-appointed Air21 president Jerry R. Jara and marketing manager, Emma Arceo, together with assistant to the president, Kaycee Tamayo, who’s also one of the TV show Motoring Today’s field reporters and we were apprised of Air21’s incomparable expansive nationwide presence by way of over 200 outlets located in every nook and cranny of the Philippine archipelago where ballots for the public voting can be cast.
Similarly in a meeting with Chevron’s brand coordinator Veronica Pangilinan and very able asssistant Marilen Dalistan we were informed that all Caltex Service Stations all over the country can likewise be utilized as ballot drop centers. As you may know Caltex is known to have the widest network of service stations located nationwide.
Aside from these innumerable combined Caltex-Air21 ballot drop centers, Air21 also has 37 business centers located in the equal number of SM Malls all over the country where those who would like to cast their votes through the Air21 voting website may freely drop by and do so.
The participation of Caltex and Air21 in this year’s polls would inarguably make it easier for the public to cast their votes not only for the automobiles that they own but likewise for those they would like to own or just exceptionally like better than the rest — without necessarily making a purchase — to come up with the undisputable “people’s choice”.
Sales figures are not the end all to determine the “most popular automobiles”. Aspiration counts a great deal to find out what models stand above the rest from the public’s minds. And knowing this, can help guide the auto manufacturers, importers and distributors on what can best sell in the country — sedans or SUVs and in what size, compact, medium or large, or what features of pick ups or vans that better appeal to the public.
Aside from making it very convenient this year for the public to cast their votes, either by dropping their ballots in the nearest Caltex Service Station or Air21 outlet anywhere in the country or online in any Air21 business center located in all SM Malls, Caltex and Air21 will have something for each and every voter in the 2010-2011 Auto Focus Automobile of the Year — People’s Choice Awards, not to mention the fabulous prizes that would be given away to winners of the monthly raffle of all those who cast their votes, like overnight resort stay for two, country club dinner for two, t-shirts, etc.
We shall be publishing very soon the list of all automobile models that are included in this year’s polls and we will also be distributing fliers and put up posters in all Air21 outlets and Caltex Service Stations enumerating the automobiles that you can vote for in what category.
The voting for the 2011-2012 Auto Focus Automobile of the Year — People’s Choice Awards starts on the 1st of July and ends on the last day of September.
Chevy now rocks in the country
For Atty. Albert Arcilla, managing director and coo of The Car Covenant Company, Inc., (TCCCI) otherwise known as Chevrolet Philippines, the old adage of “when it rains, it pours” really fits to a T.
To begin with, the Chevy Cruze, after just being recently launched was voted ‘2010-2011 Compact Sedan of the Year’ in last year’s Auto Focus Automobile of the Year — People’s Choice Awards. Then in the recently held Chevy Motorama at the Mall of Asia where they launched the Chevy Spark, all their stocks at the event and more were wiped out. And then just the other week, the Chevy Cruze was voted ‘Car of theYear’.
Chevrolet never had so good in the country until TCCCI.
Congratulations Albert, your hard work and Herculean efforts are paying off.
Credit where credit is also due
We would also like to express our appreciation to Toyota Motor Philippines through the efforts of its executive vice president, Yuji Goto for helping in working out that the Young Street Smarts Road Safety School Tour would be equipped with the special goggles that can simulate the different levels of intoxication. This will indeed come in very handy in our efforts during the seminar/workshops of the school tour to emphasize the danger of driving while under the influence of alcohol. Without diminishing whatsoever the value of the efforts of those who helped us get this very important tool for the workshop, I need to correct a “miss-tuldok” or a miss-key in the value of the goggles-it should have been $300.
Whatever the cost — thank you very much for your unwavering support for our road safety advocacy.
Happy Motoring!
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