LAOAG CITY—The Land Transportation Office (LTO) has finally deputized police personnel to apprehend traffic violators in their respective areas of jurisdiction.
According to Hipolito Arde, Chief of LTO Laoag, the deputization of these personnel means they can now confiscate driver’s licenses and impound vehicles in case of traffic laws violations.
In Sarrat town, some personnel of the Dingras Police Station has started wearing their deputization cards primarily to check on traffic violators.
The LTO has also issued its official citation tickets, which include the following violations: driving without license, open muffler, overloading, failure to wear protective helmet, driving under the influence of liquor or drugs, driving with suspended or revoked or improper license, allowing an unlicensed or improperly licensed person to drive motor vehicle and others.
Earlier, the Ilocos Norte Police Provincial Office has asked the LTO to deputize the PNP to help smoothen traffic flow in areas frequented by motorists.
Under the law, a deputized agent of the LTO must meet the basic requirement on Law Enforcement and Adjudication Service Guidelines.
Among the requirements is being a regular employee of the government and must be bonded, he must have a clearance from the Civil Service Commission for accountability, and a clearance from the Office of the Ombudsman to ensure he/she has no pending cases.
The LTO clarified that job order employees or casual employees and even civilian groups cannot be deputized. ( Leilanie Adriano/PNA)
