Penalties and Fees for the Top 10 Traffic Violations in the Philippines

This may come as a surprise to you--and to us--but the smallest penalty fees for many of the most violated traffic laws in Metro Manila last year are still in the P150-P200 range, which has been that way since—i don't know—the time of kopong-kopong perhaps?

There was even a time when ALL OF THE PENALTIES on this list required only a P150 fine, at least for first-time offenses.

Fortunately, this grave injustice has since been rectified.

Because really, would it be a huge deterrent for a person NOT to break a law when it would only cost him or her less than a drink (or a meal) to get away with it?

Perhaps we're just making assumptions, so you be the judge here.

Without further ado, here's how much you'd have to pay for the top 10 traffic violations in the country.

1. Disregarding traffic signs

Penalty fees: P150 for the first, second, and third offenses

2. Obstruction

Obstructing the free passage of other vehicles on the highway while discharging or taking passengers or loading and unloading freight, or driving a motor vehicle in such a manner as to obstruct or impede the passage of any vehicle.

Penalty Fees: P1,000 for the first, second, and third offenses

3. Unified vehicle volume reduction program

This program is more commonly known as the Number Coding Scheme.

Penalty Fees: P300 for the first, second, and third offenses

4. Illegal parking (not towed)

Penalty Fees: P1,000 for the first, second, and third offenses if attended, P2,000 for the first, second, and third offenses if unattended.

5. Illegal parking (towed)

Parking in these places are considered illegal:

• In an intersection
• Within 5 meters of the intersection
• 4 meters from the driveway entrance
• Within 4 meters from a fire hydrant
• In front of a private driveway
• On the roadway side of any unmoving or parked MV at the curb or edge of the highway
• At any place where signs of prohibitions have been installed

Penalty Fees: P1,500 for the first, second, and third offenses involving light vehicles, P2,500 for the first, second, and third offenses involving medium vehicles, P4,500 for the first, second, and third offenses involving heavy vehicles.

6. Stalled vehicle

Penalty Fees: P1,500 for the first, second, and third offenses involving light vehicles, P2,500 for the first, second, and third offenses involving medium vehicles, P3,000 for the first, second, and third offenses involving heavy vehicles.

7. Loading/unloading in prohibited zones

Penalty Fees: P500 for the first, second, and third offenses

8. Truck ban

Penalty Fees: P2,000 for the first, second, and third offenses, with suspension of license for third-time offenders

9. Reckless driving

Penalty Fees: P500 (first offense), P750 + suspension of driver's license (second offense), P1,000 + revocation of driver's license (third offense)

10. Not wearing motorcycle helmet

Penalty Fees: P1,500 for the first offense, P2,500 for the second offense, P5,000 for the third offense, and for succeeding offenses, P10,000 plus the revocation of driver's license

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Interestingly, the penalty for driver arrogance or discourtesy is P150--something which can't even buy a BigMac Value Meal these days.

Still, you should keep this figure in mind and remember to be polite, just in case an MMDA officer apprehends you for violating any of the common traffic laws we mentioned here.

Updated by Wilbert Tan on August 5, 2020

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