MANILA — The Land Transportation Office (LTO) on Thursday revoked the license of a motorist who was shown in a viral video driving his car while sitting on the passenger side.
The LTO perpetually barred Luis Miguel “Miko” Lopez from getting a driver’s license, stripping him of the privilege to drive a vehicle.
In its memorandum, it said Lopez has been imposed a fine ranging from PHP1,000 to PHP5,000 for multiple violations — speeding, reckless driving, failure to wear or use a seatbelt, and driving a motor vehicle without a steering wheel or unauthorized motor vehicle modification.
The driver failed to appear before the LTO despite a subpoena issued to him last May 29.
“Lopez disregarded the opportunity to present his side and did not make any clear effort to coordinate with the agency,” the LTO said in a statement.
A video that went viral over social media sites showed Lopez on the passenger seat, his left hand on the steering wheel and his left leg slung over the center console into the driver’s side to manipulate the pedals.
He also posted on his Facebook account a picture of him driving a vehicle at more than 120 km. per hour (kph) without a steering wheel and just holding the quick release adaptor. Still another photo showed him driving along a highway at more than 220 kph.
The LTO urged the public to report incidents of motorists violating traffic rules and regulations.
“The safety of the public is and will always be our top priority. Hence, we shall not hesitate to strip the privilege of motorists who willfully endanger others. We encourage the public to report drivers like Mr. Lopez. We implore our citizens to take part in penalizing arrogant road users so they are not emulated,” LTO chief, Assistant Secretary Edgar Galvante, said.