Hi Expats,
Got caught at a checkpoint with no helmet. (Yes, I know it is foolish not to wear a helmet.) They are starting to give tickets for no helmet in Dumaguete City. The fine is 1,500 1st offence. 3,000 2nd. 5,000 third. They take your drivers license. You have to go to the main LTO office and it takes about 3+ hours to pay the fine and get your license back. The office opens at 8 and there is a line of about 30 people at 7:30 am.
An Australian guy was given a fine 0f 5,000 because he was driving on his Australian drivers license and had been in the country for more than 3 months. So they gave him 3,000 for driving unlicensed, 1,500 no helmet and 460 I think for impound fee even though his bike had not been impounded. He was arguing but there is no sense getting angry. The law is the law and the LTO guy is just doing his job.
Moral of the story: Wear your helmet and keep your papers in order or take a tricycle. If you have been in the country less than three months, have a copy of your passport stamp. If you have been here longer than 3 months, go to the main LTO office and get your Philippine drivers license. It cost me about 850. Your foreign license should a have motorcycle permission. The default is just car permission. If you convert your existing license, make sure your Philippine license has a 1,2 under Restrictions in the bottom left corner. 1 is for motorcycle, and 2 is for car.
Best Posts in Thread: Downtown Checkpoints and No Helmet Fine Info
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Jack Peterson DI Forum Luminary Highly Rated Poster SC Connoisseur Veteran Air Force
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Solid_Pan DI Member
http://www.lto.gov.ph/frequently-asked-questions/license-permit.html- Agree x 2
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When I went to the LTO they would not issue me a drivers license because I did not have a long term visa that showed I could stay in the country for longer than a year. Tourist visa extension is only valid for 6 months.
The wording of the LTO regulations is as follows:
In addition, for foreigners, the applicant must have been in the Philippines for at least one (1) month with proof that he/she will stay in the country for at least one (1) year from date of application.
http://www.lto.gov.ph/license-permit-issuance/284-non-professional-driver-s-license.html
I believe this went into effect recently and has only been enforced at the Dumaguete LTO within the last few months.- Like x 1
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