Postponed for second time. The JMC enforces the restrictions against motorists entering dedicated electronic toll collection (ETC) lanes with no valid ETC device and with no sufficient load.

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has postponed anew the implementation of the revised guidelines on toll expressways to Jan. 1, 2025, which is set to penalize motorists passing through expressways without radio frequency identification (RFID) and those with insufficient load balance. 

Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC) No. 2024-001 or the Revised Guidelines for All Vehicles on Toll Expressways was originally set to take effect last August 1 but was deferred to October 1.

“Penalties may take effect starting January next year,” DOTr Secretary Jaime Bautista said in a statement yesterday.  

Bautista said the DOTr is ensuring its toll and traffic strategies align with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s goal to provide solutions to the persistent traffic issues.

He did not give the specific reasons for the second deferment

 except to say the DOTr has the tools to address congestion on major roads “but is taking time for a thorough review to ensure these solutions meet motorists’ needs.”

The second deferment is seen to give concerned agencies and tollway operators time to prepare for the implementation of the full cashless toll collection system and further intensify the public information campaign to allow users to comply with the new guidelines.

This is turn avoid causing any congestion on the expressways.

The JMC of the DOTr, Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) and Land Transportation Office aims to enforce cashless toll collection by encouraging motorists to install the RFID and maintain sufficient load when using TRB-controlled tollways.

JMC enforces the restrictions against motorists entering dedicated electronic toll collection (ETC) lanes with no valid ETC device and with no sufficient load, the DOTr said.

Under the JMC, the penalty for motorists that will enter the expressway without a valid ETC device is P1,000 for the first offense, P2,000 for the second offense and for subsequent offenses, P5,000 per offense.

For motorists existing the toll expressway with insufficient account balance, the penalty for the first offense is P500; second offense, P 1,000; and for subsequent offenses, P2,500 per offense.

For public, road safety and security purposes, the use of fraudulent, tampered or fake ETC device and E-Card upon entry and exit on toll expressway shall also be penalized for the first offense with a fine of P1,000, P2,000 for the second offense and P5,000 for subsequent offenses.

A motorist who commits the violation three times within 12 months may result in confiscation of the driver’s license and suspension of the car registration.

The DOTr said the initiative complies with the instruction of President Marcos Jr. during the April 2024 Traffic Summit to provide innovative solutions to traffic congestion at major thoroughfares.