VIRAL: Confiscated license? Here’s how not to react

MANILA, Philippines – In a video recently posted on Facebook, a 19-year-old man lost his temper at a police officer who confiscated his driver’s license.

In the 3-minute-20-second long video taken in the wake of the violation, the unidentified man cursed at and questioned the authority of the officer as his details are noted.

The video has gone viral since it was posted just a few days ago on October 12. It amassed almost 150,000 views and more than 2,000 shares on the social network as of Thursday night. 

One can see how the young man repeatedly punctuated his sentences with swearing. When asked by the officer to be more respectful, the man continued to question the officer’s authority.

“I am educated. (Are) your people educated?” he asked.

The source of the man’s frustration seemed to come from his belief that it was not within the officer’s authority to confiscate his license.

“I don’t care who they are,” he complained.

“They can’t grab my license…They can’t just do that,” he continued.

However, the young man did not realize that it’s actually legal for a police officer to confiscate the license of a violator.

This is what the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) protocol says:

• Greet the driver with respect and identify yourself.

• Inform the driver of his violation.

• State your authority.

• Respectfully ask for his driver’s license.

• Inform the driver not to alight from the vehicle.

• Should there be any complaint, state the availability of the Traffic Adjudication Board (TAB) for lodging a complaint within (5) days or the Roadside Traffic Arbitration (RTA) during apprehension (on site).

The MMDA particularly suggests this sample apprehension dialogue for traffic officers:

“Good Morning, Sir/Madam. I am Traffic Officer Juan Dela Cruz. You violated a traffic rule, you obstructed the flow of traffic. Under MMDA law (Republic Act 7924 and its Implementing Rules and Regulations), I am authorized to confiscate your license should there be a need to do so. May I have your driver’s license, please? You are also requested, Sir/Madam, not to alight from your vehicle.”

The MMDA also lists down the following steps traffic officers should take when apprehending traffic violators:

• Flag down the vehicle and lead it to the roadside where it will not obstruct the flow of traffic.

• Courteously inform the driver of his violation.

• Request for the drivers license, vehicle registration, and other pertinent documents.

• Verify records of driver from central database.

• Inform the driver of his previous records should there be any.

• Accomplish the traffic violation receipt or TVR without unnecessary delay or argument.

• Issue the second copy to the driver/motorist and inform him/her where and when to pay his/her fine.

How have traffic enforcers treated you before? Tell us about your experience by tweeting @moveph or emailing us at move.ph@rappler.com. You can also post your photos and reports on MovePH’s Facebook page.  – Rappler.com

Lorenzo Benitez is a Rappler intern. He is an incoming Cornell University student. Follow him on Twitter: @_lorenzob