New fines imposed for RFID violations on tollways Starting August 31

Motorists who pass through expressways in the Philippines without a radio frequency identification (RFID) device or those with insufficient load will soon be subject to fines. This new measure, set by the Department of Transportation, Land Transportation Office (LTO), and Toll Regulatory Board (TRB), will be enforced starting August 31, 2024, as detailed in Joint Memorandum Circular No. 2024-001.

The circular specifies that driving through tollways without a valid RFID or an electronic toll collection (ETC) device, or using a damaged one, will result in a penalty categorized as “No Valid ETC Device.” Fines will be applied as follows: P1,000 for the first offense, P2,000 for the second, and P5,000 for each subsequent violation. Similarly, motorists using fraudulent, tampered, or fake RFID devices will face the same fines.

The regulatory update was finalized after the memorandum was registered with the University of the Philippines-Office of the National Administrative Register on August 8, 2024, and published in the Manila Bulletin on August 16, 2024. The TRB reports that 9% of motorists currently do not comply with RFID requirements, contributing a lot to delays and long queues at toll plazas. With 91% of expressway users already compliant, the new fines will hopefully correct the behavior of the minority impacting the majority.

The TRB expressed that the implementation of these fines is intended to promote a smoother flow of traffic at toll plazas, ultimately conserving time, money, and resources for drivers. In preparation for these changes, the TRB alongside toll expressway concessionaires/operators and the LTO, will launch an informational campaign to educate motorists about the new rules and the importance of RFID compliance.