THE Land Transportation Office Gingoog District Office is reminding public transportation drivers that they face a P3,000 fine if passengers are not wearing seat belts.
LTO Gingoog District Officer Ritchie Caingles said in an interview that the fine applies particularly to passengers in the front of the vehicle or in any seat where a seat belt is required.
The reminder comes amid reports that some buses operating in eastern Misamis Oriental are not using mandatory seat belts.
Caingles said drivers will be fined if their passengers fail to wear seat belts. The mandatory seat belt law, Republic Act No. 8750, applies to both public and private vehicles.
The law states that for their own safety, the driver and front-seat passengers of a motor vehicle are required to use their seat belt devices while the vehicle's engine is running on any road.
For private vehicles, the fines are a P1,000 fine for the first offense, P2,000 for the second, and P5,000 plus a one-week license suspension for the third and subsequent violations.
For public utility vehicles, both the driver and operator are liable for a P3,000 fine for each violation.
Caingles urged all drivers, public and private, to always wear their seat belts, stating that the LTO is focused on the safety of drivers and passengers, not just on collecting fines.
