LTO wants specific penalties for road rage suspects

The Land Transportation Office (LTO) is planning to propose to Congress specific penalties for individuals involved in road rage incidents.

“Nu’ng binasa namin itong batas, medyo prohibitive ang penalty. We cannot impose a penalty higher than four years. Suspension or revocation dahil nga that four years would mean na may death or injury pero kung wala namang death or injury pero grabe naman ang pagka-road rage niya parang special law-- ‘yung penalty niya will not be a simple violation of [Republic Act] 4136 reckless driving...specific penalty talaga,” LTO chief Vigor Mendoza II said on Tuesday.

“Define it and then penalize road rage incidents. Kasama d’yan ‘yung pag-draft ng batas na magiging proposal namin sa Kongreso as far as road rage incidents are concerned but we are doing our complete staff work muna kasi mahirap i-define e,” he said.

Mendoza added that they are considering making it a requirement for applicants for driver's licenses to disclose whether or not they own firearms.

He said they are coordinating with the Philippine National Police Highway Patrol Group on the profiling of individuals who were involved in road rage incidents.

“Gusto ko nga maprofile to para sa ganon sa pagbibigay ng lisensya kung pwede namin i-incorporate sa mga requirements e mas maganda sana and also we are coordinating with other government agencies on the matter kasi ang pinaka-grabe dito e ‘yung may firearms,” Mendoza said.

“Gusto kong malaman sa HPG ano ba ang magiging rekisitos sa pagbibigay ng firearms kung puwede nating i-incorporate without being too voluminous ‘yung requirements para lang masala talaga natin ‘yung mga taong hindi dapat bigyan ng driver’s license,” he added.

Several incidents of road rage were recently reported in the country, including an altercation between a former cop and a cyclist that went viral on social media last month. — VBL, GMA Integrated News