Responsibilities of the Traffic Adjudication Service (TAS)
- TAS is empowered to adjudicate traffic-related violations, but not those involving criminal offenses under the Revised Penal Code.
- TAS shall only impose penalties when no formal court case has been filed by the parties involved.
Procedural Guidelines in Case of Filing Court Cases
- When a case related to damage, injury, or death from traffic accidents is filed in court, the adjudication and final disposition rest solely with the competent court.
- The LTO and TAS defer to the court’s authority in such instances.
Procedural Guidelines when No Court Case is Filed
- If both parties attest in writing that no case has been filed in court, the Land Transportation Office (LTO) shall have the authority to adjudicate and penalize the party at fault.
- This ensures timely administrative resolution of certain traffic-related infractions when judicial intervention is absent.
Legal Basis and Penalties
- Penalties for negligent or reckless driving resulting in accidents causing death or injury are grounded in the Revised Penal Code.
- The administrative penalties imposed by the LTO are separate from criminal sanctions but serve to enforce traffic laws and promote public safety.
Summary of Enforcement Framework
- The guidelines create a dual-path enforcement mechanism: judicial courts handle criminal cases, while administrative bodies manage non-criminal apprehensions involving damage or injury when no court case exists.
- This delineation ensures proper adjudication and efficient resolution of traffic-related incidents involving harm to persons or property.