Drunk drivers to soon face automatic license revocation — LTO

MANILA — The Land Transportation Office (LTO) on Tuesday said it would make license revocation an automatic penalty for motorists who exceed legal alcohol limits starting Nov. 15 as part of efforts to curb drunk driving and prevent road accidents.

LTO Chief Markus Lacanilao told ABS-CBN News that motorists who test positive in breathalyzer tests would be issued show-cause orders by the agency’s Intelligence and Investigation Division (IID).

Unlike in the previous policy, where the agency imposed either suspension or revocation as a penalty, the current policy provides for revocation as the sole penalty.

“For example, ‘yung tao napara tapos may violation siya…ibe-breath analyzer ‘yan. Pag nag-breath analyzer ‘yan at nagpositive siya, automatic isho-show cause ng IID ‘yan. Bibigyan siya ng due process, dun magpaliwanag siya kung bakit siya nag-positive. Then, ang magiging hatol revocation,” Lacanilao said.

The move follows several road accidents caused by drunk driving, a problem that some motorists continue to take lightly, according to LTO.

“Karamihan ng mga driver natin, winawalang bahala na lang, mag-iinom sila. Wag nating kalimutan ‘yung sa Cebu, nakailang aksidente sa Cebu na puro patay, mga drunk driving,” he said.

The Anti-Drunk and Drugged Driving Act of 2013 sets the limit for blood alcohol level at below 0.05% for private vehicle drivers whose motor vehicles do not exceed 4500 kg. For public utility vehicle drivers, no amount of alcohol is allowed.