LTO enforcers to use automated handheld device to issue tickets

The Land Transportation Office (LTO) will start using an automated handheld device for the issuance of tickets to traffic violators by next week.

According to Joseph Morong’s Monday report on Balitanghali, LTO traffic enforcers in the National Capital Region and in other places nationwide will input the motorist’s information and violation into the device.

The device will then release a receipt which will be presented by the motorists to the LTO office when they go to pay their traffic fine. They will have 15 days to do so.

An updated report by Morong on 24 Oras showed an enforcer scanning a motorist's fingerprint to verify his driver's license, and typing the car's license plate number into the device for further confirmation. After ticking the motorist's violation from a list—in this case, failure to wear a seatbelt—the ticket is printed out. In cases when internet connection fails, the enforcer said, they can simply revert to issuing tickets manually.

Authorities said that this will help cut down on bribery and tampering of tickets.

"Hindi na po pwedeng i-edit, so talagang pag napasok na po iyan [the information], hindi na pwedeng ma-'negotiate' yung infraction ng erring motorist," LTO chief Jose Arturo Tugade said in the 24 Oras report.

The devices are currently limited to LTO enforcers, but enforcers of local governments in Metro Manila will soon be able to use them once the Metro Manila Council passes a traffic code to allow a single ticketing system and the same fines for violations across the National Capital Region's cities.

The system is still on a dry run, Tugade said, adding that eventually motorists will be given the option of paying the fines online and on the spot, and that the need to confiscate licenses will be eliminated.

“Sa ngayon po, kukumpiskahin pa namin ang lisensiya, dahil nasa testing po tayo," he said."Pagka meron na po tayong payment gateway, tapos ang option ng motorista ay bayaran on the spot, at pwede na nilang bayaran iyong pagka na activate na natin 'yung second phase ng programa. — Joahna Lei Casilao/BM, GMA Integrated News