Filipino Facebook (FB) users are sharing an inaccurate tally of fines supposedly imposed by the Land Transportation Office (LTO) on motorcycle owners who violate the law.
The false list first circulated in 2018 and was debunked by the LTO. The alleged fines do not match the actual penal provisions in existing laws and the agency’s administrative orders.
The LTO also warned against the unauthorized use of its logo.
The erroneous post enumerated false and inaccurate fines for six violations on the operation of motorcycles. VERA Files Fact Check identified the actual penalties for these violations, as stated in the law and LTO issuances:
Additionally, the LTO introduced in 2019 a system where traffic and driving violations are given corresponding demerit points. Accumulating five points would require a driver to undergo a reorientation course, while accumulating 40 points can result in the revocation of one’s license.
The erroneous post was published by a netizen on Dec. 31, 2022 and continued to get thousands of interactions this January. As of publishing, it has garnered 444 reactions, 358 comments, and over 10,000 shares.
The earliest versions of this incorrect claim, dated Feb. 10, 2018, originated from a set of infographics posted and eventually corrected by the tabloid Pilipino Star Ngayon.
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(Editor’s Note: VERA Files has partnered with Facebook to fight the spread of disinformation. Find out more about this partnership and our methodology.)
