Fines await motorists without RFID, insufficient load at tollways starting Aug. 31

Motorists passing through expressways without radio frequency identification (RFID) devices as well as those with insufficient load balance will be slapped with fines starting Aug. 31, 2024.

Toll Regulatory Board: Motorists entering expressways without valid electronic toll collection (ETC)/RFID device and insufficient load will be penalized starting August 31, 2024. pic.twitter.com/zoE3mIxtSe

— Ted Cordero (@Ted_Cordero) August 20, 2024

This is pursuant to the Joint Memorandum Circular No. 2024-001, signed by the Department of Transportation, Land Transportation Office (LTO) and Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) on Aug. 1, 2024.

The JMC No. 2024-001 will take effect at the end of the month after a copy of the circular was submitted for registration at the University of the Philippines-Office of the National Administrative Register (UP-ONAR) on Aug. 8, 2024, and was published on the Manila Bulletin on 16 Aug. 16, 2024.

Under the circular, motorists entering toll roads without valid RFID or electronic toll collection (ETC) device, including dilapidated ones, shall be penalized as “No Valid ETC Device” with the following fines:

• First offense - P1,000
• Second offense - P2,000
• Subsequent offenses - P5,000 per offense

Those exiting an expressway with insufficient balance, meanwhile, shall be penalized as “Insufficient Load” with the following penalties:

• First offense - P500
• Second offense - P1,000
• Subsequent offenses - P2,500 per offense

For the use of fraudulent, tampered, or fake RFID device and e-card upon entry and exit on toll expressway shall be penalized as "Fraudulent or Falsified ETC" with a penalty of:

• First offense - P1,000
• Second offense - P2,000
• Subsequent offenses - P5,000 per offense

In a statement, the TRB said that erring motorists with RFID-related violations represent 9% of all the motorists using the toll expressways, “who unfortunately are the ones causing the unnecessary delays and long queues at the toll plazas.”

The toll roads regulator said the majority of expressway users at 91% are “compliant and responsible ETC users” and “are often greatly inconvenienced by the erring motorists.”

The TRB said the fines and penalties for violations upon the implementation of the JMC “intends to achieve a smoother and faster flow of traffic at the toll plazas, thereby saving time, money and resources.”

The agency said it shall be issuing subsequent advisories on the JMC to discuss the details of the other provisions such as the responsibilities of the toll expressway concessionaires/operators, RFID service providers, toll expressway users, the LTO, and the TRB; as well as its salient provisions.

“The Toll Expressway Concessionaires/Operators and the LTO shall also conduct an information campaign pertaining to the JMC,” it said. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News