Piston Cebu jeepney drivers protested before the LTO Region 7 on January 25 to condemn the agency for targeting them in imposing excessive fines.

Drivers opposed the agency’s Joint Administrative Order 2014-01 which imposed up to ₱27,000 fines for minor and trumped-up traffic violations.

“A Cebu driver is commonly fined ₱6,000 or more. The demerit system on licenses will even be used to further extort from drivers when renewing licenses,” according to Piston. They said, corrupt LTO officials deliberately flunk drivers in the renewal exam for their licenses, and only pass them when they provide ₱8,000-₱10,000 grease money.

“The jeepney phaseout is ongoing, but it seems that the JAO and demerits will phase out the drivers first.”

Drivers consider excessive fines as part of a series of attacks on their livelihood.

“The entire Marcos regime is converting the government itself into a business, and is looking for all means of extorting the people, from high taxes to high fines,” they said.

From January to June 2024, the Cebu City Transportation Office issued 74,371 “citation tickets” mostly for traffic light violations, fining mostly passenger vehicle drivers and motorcyclists. Drivers and motorists are charged extra if fines are not paid within three days.

Some of the violations fined are smoke belching (₱3,000), defective lighting (₱500) and parking violation (₱100-₱1000/day).