Demerit system set for LTO license renewal.

MANILA, Philippines — The Land Transportation Office has started to implement a new demerit system for traffic violations, which would determine the conditions for renewal of driver’s license as mandated under the recently released implementing rules and regulations of Republic Act No. 10930.

The IRR was signed on June 26 and became effective last July 7. 

RA 10930 extends the validity of drivers’ licenses from three years to five years and up to 10 years upon renewal. It amended provisions to the traffic code relating to driver’s licenses and established stricter rules for the issuance of licenses.

It also called for the creation of a point system to enable a driver to renew the license. The point and demerit system will be used to assess the fitness of applicants for their license transactions and would also be used to penalize repeat traffic law offenders. 

Under the IRR, a driver would be issued demerit points for every corresponding traffic violation based on a schedule of penalties. The traffic violations would be classified as grave, less grave or light, and would be given a respective demerit point.   

Public utility vehicle drivers will be meted double the number of demerit points for every traffic violation. 

The demerit points will be accumulated from the date of initial issuance until the renewal date of the license. Applicants who have accrued at least five demerit points shall be required to complete a driver’s reorientation course.