For most Filipino motorists, getting apprehended is already frustrating enough, but the real headache isn’t really the ticket itself, it’s the bureaucratic nightmare that follows.

Whether you’re trying to settle a violation, retrieving your license or simply registering your car, you’re often met with timelines that just don’t align with how we actually live and work. In moments like those, it feels less like accountability and more like a test of patience.

This is why the recent directive from the Department of Transportation(DOTr) feels like such a breath of fresh air.

Why the Adjustment Matters

Photos Source: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1N75Fo7wzo/ 

In a memorandum issued on January 9 by Acting DOTr Secretary Lopez, gave the Land Transportation Office(LTO) two clear orders: stop confiscating driver’s licenses during apprehensions and switch the settlement period from 15 calendar days to 15 working days.

It may be a small change, but it definitely has a big impact. Counting calendar days for deadlines never made sense when offices are closed on weekends and holidays. For years, motorists who were willing to comply were often penalized simply because there was no way to transact.

Now, while licenses can still be “flagged” in their system for unsettled violations, you’re no longer deprived of your mobility or your ability to earn a living just because of pending paperwork.

A Signal For Bigger Change

This isn’t just about the LTO; it’s a message that our voices are being heard. It shows a willingness to step back and fix rules that might look good on paper but fail in the real world.

This shouldn’t just stop at traffic tickets. While we’ve seen some agencies digitize or streamline their processes, many of us still face redundant forms and manual processes that should’ve been digitized or streamlined years ago. When people are forced to lose hours of work and a chunk of our paycheck just to stand in line due to red tape, efficiency isn’t just a convenience—it’s a necessity.

The changes at the LTO are a  big step in the right direction, but this is only the beginning. The real opportunity now is to carry this mindset forward and fix the other processes that still create unnecessary friction and red tape.

We need to make sure this becomes part of a broader shift, one where following the rules isn’t the hardest option, but the most reasonable one.