TRB to penalize drivers with no RFID, toll load

MANILA, Philippines — Beginning Aug. 31, motorists will be fined up to P5,000 for entering expressways without an electronic toll collection (ETC) device as part of efforts to speed up traffic flow.

In a statement, the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) said it has signed a joint memorandum circular (JMC) with the Land Transportation Office and Department of Transportation for the imposition of penalties on motorists using tollways without an ETC device.

The JMC penalizes the entry of a vehicle on a toll road without an ETC device: P1,000 for the initial offense, P2,000 for the second offense and P5,000 for subsequent offenses.

Moreover, the JMC punishes motorists who exit a toll gate with insufficient load balance to pay the required fee. The circular slaps fines of P500 for the first offense, P1,000 for the second offense and P2,500 for proceeding offenses.

The agency instructed motorists to ensure compliance with the order to spare themselves from paying the penalties as the JMC will take effect by the end of the month.

Justifying the issuance of the circular, the TRB said it has to penalize motorists without an ETC device and insufficient load balance in fairness to responsible toll users.

“A vast majority of toll expressway users at 91 percent are compliant and responsible ETC users and are often greatly inconvenienced by the erring motorists,” the TRB said.

The agency hopes that by imposing fines, motorists would be forced to fix their ETC devices and load up properly for their trips. In the process, this would quicken traffic flow and minimize long queues at tollway booths.

The TRB will issue subsequent advisories dispersing the responsibilities of toll operators, RFID providers and government agencies in enforcing the JMC.

The agency also committed to conducting an information campaign to disseminate the provisions of the circular.