Was there a time when you had to claim your driver's license back after being tagged by local traffic enforcement units? According to the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), that practice is wrong.

As we all know, more local traffic management units have been deployed in the streets after the Supreme Court issued a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) on the implementation of the No-Contact Apprehension Program (NCAP). Instead of traffic cameras, enforcers are back to physically apprehend erring motorists.

Now if you get caught violating traffic rules and be tagged by local enforcers, the DILG has made it clear. Following the provision of the DILG-DOTC Joint Memorandum Circular No. 01, series 2008, section 3.4, “The LGUs can issue traffic citation tickets but only the LTO and their deputized agents can confiscate driver's licenses”.

The DILG is directing LGUs to review their traffic ordinances and policies to make sure their traffic management units conform to the said provision in the aforementioned JMC.

Now that this memorandum has been reiterated, this should remove the unnecessary and not to mention, the hassle of retrieving your card from the LGUs. However, this doesn't give you an excuse not to settle your traffic fines, unless you want to invite more trouble the next time you renew your driver's license.