DOTr and LTO delay enforcement of required car seats

Both the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and Land Transportation Office (LTO) are in favor of postponing its full implementation of the Republic Act 11229 or the Child Safety in Motor Vehicles Act. With the law requiring car seats for kids aging 12 years old as well as prohibiting them from occupying the front passenger seat unless he or she is at least 150 cm or 4ft 11 in tall and can properly be fastened on a standard seatbelt.

First and foremost, LTO is still in the process of finalizing its enforcement protocols in order to properly implement this measure. Notably, the law requires special training given that it involves children.

The LTO was originally scheduled for an enforcement and communications planning workshop in implementing RA 11229. The event was supposedly scheduled last March 19 to 20, 2020, unfortunately, given the sudden outbreak of the Coronavirus, safety protocols were put into place, which then led to the cancellation of its workshop. 

Apart from that, it was also stated that they originally planned a nationwide information drive regarding the new law, therefore, targeting teachers, school officials, medical practitioners, manufacturers, retailers, importers, and of course, children. Likewise, it didn’t push through as well given the current situation we are facing right now because of the pandemic.

With the delaying of its enforcement, instead of giving out citation tickets to those who fail to conform to the law, a warning shall be given along with information materials in order to properly inform motorists regarding the new safety measure. As per reports, the fines will then be applied 3 to 6 months from now. For the first offense, violators are fined P1,000, go on for a second time and a P2,000 fine will be imposed. As for the third-time violators will be subjected to a P5,000 fine, plus one-year suspension of their driver’s license.