LTO suspends driver for giving the finger

The middle finger is widely recognized as a sign of anger or frustration, which often finds its way to drivers during heated on-road encounters. As for the Land Transportation Office (LTO), this aggressive behavior will never be tolerated. The LTO views such gestures as a form of Road Rage—an offense that can lead to a motorist being stripped of their driving privileges.

Just recently, the LTO has once again reminded motorists to practice proper road etiquette. The agency has issued a Show Cause Order (SCO) against the registered owner of a Toyota Prado, following a viral video of its driver allegedly engaging in a road rage incident.

LTO Chief, Assistant Secretary Atty. Vigor Mendoza II, stated that the video, which was monitored by the agency’s social media team, shows the driver of the Toyota Prado cutting into a lane and making an offensive hand gesture toward another motorist. Acting on a directive from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to pursue erring motorists, the LTO used the vehicle’s license plate from the video as a basis for the summons.

“The hearing will be the opportunity for us in the LTO to determine if the owner was driving the car at the time of the incident. If not, we want to identify this driver for proper action,” said Mendoza.

The driver, once identified, will face a 90-day preventive suspension of their license and charges for reckless driving and being an Improper Person to Operate a Motor Vehicle. The Show Cause Order, signed by LTO Intelligence and Investigation Division chief Renante Melitante, places the vehicle under an alarm, preventing any transactions while the investigation is ongoing.