Law stretching life of driving licenses OK’d

PRESIDENT Duterte on Wednesday signed into law Republic Act 10930, extending the validity of driving licenses to five years.

Under the new law, all qualified applicants are to be issued licenses, except for student permits, that would be valid for five years.

It also provides further that the holder of a driver’s license who has not committed any violation of the Land Transportation and Traffic Code and other traffic laws, rules and regulations during the five-year period would be entitled to a license with a 10-year validity upon renewal.

This would be subject to restrictions imposed by the Land Transportation Office.

The law also mandates the establishment of stricter rules before the issuance of driver’s licenses.

As provided, the LTO would promulgate prerequisites and guidelines before the grant of drivers’ licenses to ensure that these are issued only to deserving applicants with sufficient driving skills and knowledge on road safety and proper road courtesy.

RA 10930 also introduced a new provision penalizing persons who violate the rules on the issuance of drivers’ licenses.

A fine of P20,000 would be imposed on an applicant if found to have willfully misrepresented material information in his or her application; connived with the officer in the irregular conduct of examinations or issuance of license; falsified documents; or cheated during examinations.

Any officer who issues a license without the proper examinations, connives with the applicant for the irregular issuance of a license or who, by gross negligence, issues a license to an unqualified applicant would be dismissed from the government service with all the attached accessory penalties. (pna)