DOTr orders 90-day license suspension of driver with blinking reverse lights

Here in the country, the use of blinkers or flashing lights is prohibited under Presidential Decree No. 96. The law reserves these devices exclusively for authorized government vehicles, specifically those used for official duties by agencies such as the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Philippine National Police (PNP), Land Transportation Office (LTO), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), and ambulances.

Unauthorized use of these lights by private individuals or organizations is considered a violation of the decree and is subject to penalties, including the confiscation of such devices in favor of the government.

Staying true to its promise of swift action against reckless motorists caught on video or who have gone viral on social media, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) has directed the Land Transportation Office (LTO) to immediately impose a 90-day suspension on the driver’s license of the Toyota Innova motorist recently caught on video using blinking reverse lights.

DOTr Acting Secretary, Banoy Lopez, also made it clear that the agency will not tire itself in suspending the driving privileges of unruly drivers. The driver is instructed to appear before the LTO’s Intelligence and Investigation Division (IID), no later than October 10, 2025, to explain why his/her license should not be further suspended or revoked. The vehicle involved was likewise put on alarm by the LTO.