By Rjay Zuriaga Castor
Supportive, not punitive.
A student who went viral on social media for kneeling and tearfully pleading with a traffic enforcer after being caught driving without a license has been issued a student permit.
Land Transportation Office (LTO) Aklan head Engr. Marlon Velez said the student attended a free theoretical driving course seminar and received a free medical certificate as part of the LTO’s effort to help him comply with traffic regulations.
The student garnered online attention after a video showed him kneeling and crying while pleading with the traffic enforcer who apprehended him for driving a motorcycle without a license.
“Today I met the student who went viral on social media a week ago. He was apprehended for driving a motorcycle without a driver’s license. He begged, cried, and kneeled before the law enforcer, which caught the attention of netizens,” Velez shared in a Facebook post.
In addition, several individuals sponsored the renewal of the student’s motorcycle registration and provided him with a new helmet.
Velez said the student was given a stern warning about future violations, emphasizing that he now has no excuse to break traffic laws.
Obtaining an LTO student permit costs PHP 317.63, which includes an application fee of PHP 100, a student permit fee of PHP 150, and a computer fee of PHP 67.63.
Applicants must also complete a 15-hour theoretical driving course and submit required documents, including a medical certificate and a valid ID.
The application process can take 30 minutes to several hours, depending on the queue and completeness of the applicant’s documents.
Driving without a valid LTO student permit incurs a penalty of PHP 3,000. In addition to the monetary fine, violations may result in vehicle impoundment if no authorized driver is available.
