Sen. Tulfo wants PHP 1 million fine for drunk driving

Despite having an 11-year-old law against drunk and drugged driving, fatalities, damage to property, and injuries caused by accidents due to drunk driving continue to pile up.

According to the Land Transportation Office (LTO) Law Enforcement Service-Anti-Drunk and Drugged Driving Enforcement Unit, from January to August 2022, 353 of the 402 road crashes involved drivers who tested positive for alcohol consumption. The PNP (Philippine National Police) Highway Patrol Group also added that the number of drunk-driving accidents went up 90% since 2021.

Even LGUs are asking for reinforcement. Quezon City passed a resolution asking the LTO, PNP, and the MMDA (Metropolitan Manila Development Authority) to deploy more personnel enforcing Republic Act No. 10586 or the Anti-Drunk and Drugged Driving Act of 2013.

Two months ago – December 2023 – a drunk driver caused a five-vehicle pileup and injured six people in Quezon City after counterflowing on Elliptical Road.

Senator Raffy Tulfo has seen enough and filed Senate Bill (SB) 2546, which seeks to increase the penalties in the Anti-Drunk and Drugged Driving Act of 2013. Under the bill, if the violation results in homicide, the violator receives a hefty penalty of PHP 1 million, and the driver’s license is suspended for 24 months.

The current fine of Republic Act No. 10586 ranges from PHP 300,000 to PHP 500,000.

"There is an urgent need to pass legislation that calls for stricter penalties on driving under the influence. No one should ever experience the pain and suffering felt by the Palupit family, and all the other families victimized by one person's poor decisions," said Sen. Tulfo.

With the lawmaker looking to pass a hefty fine to deter drunk drivers from driving while under the influence, do you think this measure will help motorists avoid drinking before hitting the road?