LTO says James Deakin's son crossed double solid line in unregistered car in wake of post vs. red tape

The son of vlogger James Deakin committed reckless driving for crossing the double solid line and for driving an unregistered vehicle on the Skyway Stage 3 in December, the Land Transportation Office (LTO) said on Wednesday. 

The LTO made the statement after Deakin recently shared on social media that his teenage son, who is a new driver, was issued a ticket for “reckless driving” due to a lane violation. 

The vlogger-host said in his social media post on January 5 that the “reckless driving” citation could “potentially criminalize a teenage driver’s record.”

In his post, Deakin said the traffic violation happened a few days before Christmas and since they were traveling, they decided to settle the matter during the break between Christmas and New Year.

After paying the P2,000 fine, Deakin was told the license couldn't be released unless they gave copies of the vehicle's registration documents.

Deakin said he told the LTO that the car wasn't theirs, adding that photocopies of the official receipt of registration and certificate of registration were no longer needed as the vehicle information was already on the traffic violation ticket.

Still, Deakin said they came back to the LTO with the documents from the manufacturer only to be told that the 15-day deadline to settle had lapsed and that his son's license was already suspended for a month.

He said he was told the 15-day period within which to settle the violation included the holidays.

GMA News Online has reached out to Deakin for his comment on the LTO's findings of reckless driving and the car having no registration papers.

“Napatawan ng reckless driving yung anak ni Mr. Deakin... Sa kasong ito ni Mr. Deakin, tumawid sa double solid lane sa isang malinaw na universal at mahigpit na ipinagbabawal sa traffic rules,” said LTO chief Mark Lacanilao in a press briefing. 

(Mr. Deakin’s son was penalized for reckless driving [...] In this case of Mr. Deakin's [son], he crossed a double solid lane, which is clearly a universal and strictly prohibited act under traffic rules.) 

Furthermore, the LTO said that the Deakins failed to provide the necessary documents for the vehicle. It was later discovered that the car is not designed for use on Philippine roads. 

“Sa aming imbestigasyon ay lumalabas po na hindi rehistrado ang minamaneho ni Mr. Deakin…Ang kanyang papel na dala-dala ay hindi nga po sales invoice, hindi rin OR/CR, totally walang papel yung sasakyan. Kasi yung papel na dala-dala nila is papel from the importer to the dealer," Lacanilao said.

"So anong ibig sabihin nun? Ayan ay hindi pa nabebenta sa labas, sa tao, at hindi ‘yan dapat minamaneho sa kalye kasi walang kaukulang papeles,” he added.

(Based on our investigation, it appears that the vehicle Mr. Deakin was driving is unregistered… The papers he was carrying were not a sales invoice, nor were they an OR/CR [Official Receipt/Certificate of Registration]; the vehicle totally lacked papers. Because the paper they were carrying was a document from the importer to the dealer. So what does that mean? It means it hasn't been sold yet to the public, to a person, and it should not be driven on the streets because it lacks the proper paperwork.) 

“Ayon po sa ating rules, ang pagmamaneho ng sasakyan na hindi rehistrado ay considered reckless driving,” Lacanilao said. 

(According to our rules, driving an unregistered vehicle is considered reckless driving.) 

For its part, the LTO said that a reckless driving citation is not a criminal offense. 

“Ang reckless driving po ay hindi criminal offense…Magiging reckless imprudence lamang po ‘yan kung siya ay nakasakit ng tao o damage to property,” said Lacanilao. 

(Reckless driving is not a criminal offense… It only becomes 'reckless imprudence' if it results in physical injury to a person or damage to property.)

“Kung hindi po sang ayon sa violation na naipataw, binibigyan tayo ng limang araw para i-contest, nakalagay po ‘yan sa ating TOP. Malinaw po na nakasaad dito sa TOP, Mr. Deakin has until December 23 to contest the reckless driving violation,” said Lacanilao. 

(If one does not agree with the violation imposed, we are given five days to contest it; that is stated in our TOP [Temporary Operator's Permit]. It is clearly stated here in the TOP that Mr. Deakin has until December 23 to contest the reckless driving violation.) 

“Kapag hindi po ito na-contest within five days at binayaran na, deemed admitted sa mga violation…Batay sa aming record, wala pong na-contest na na-submit.” 

(If it is not contested within five days and is paid for, the violations are deemed admitted… Based on our records, no contest was submitted.) 

Moreover, the LTO said that it has issued a show-cause order against the car dealer due to the absence of necessary documents. 

The LTO likewise issued a show-cause order against the traffic enforcer who issued the ticket to explain his side.

In another social media post on Wednesday, Deakin said that he attended a hearing with the Anti-Red Tape Authority. A lawyer from the LTO was also present,  according to the post. 

“My biggest concern through all this was teaching my son that rules matter, and that we improve as a society by following them. The LTO let me down badly, and it cut deep, but at least now I can tell him there’s accountability even when government agencies don’t play by the rules. That means something,” he said. –NB, GMA Integrated News