LTO-7 earns P2.7M in fines

The Land Transportation Office recently reported that a total of P2.7-million in fines were collected last year from drivers in Central Visayas for violating Republic Act 8750, or the Seatbelt Use Law.

Traffic authorities apprehended a total of 10,432 drivers of public utility vehicles and private cars in the region, making it fifth in the list of regions nationwide with the most number of apprehensions on the seatbelt law violation.

According to LTO statistics, Central Luzon topped the list with 33,848 apprehensions, followed by Western Visayas with 25,872, then Region IV-A with 19,1140, and Northern Luzon with 13,072.

The LTO also said the government collected around the country last year a total of P40.2 million in fines from 139,618 drivers apprehended for not wearing seatbelts while driving their vehicles, or from owners who failed to install seatbelts in their cars.

Republic Act 8750 prohibits transportation officials to renew the registration of vehicles that have no seatbelt, but some LTO officials reportedly continue processing the renewal without checking if the applicants complied with the law.

The law threatened to impose sanctions against LTO personnel who failed to implement the law but still it was found out that this has just been ignored.

A driver caught not wearing seatbelt would be slapped with a fine of P250, P500 and P1,000 for the first, second and third violations, respectively.

A driver would be fined P300 also for failing to install signage inside the PUV instructing passengers to wear or fasten their seatbelts.