LTO goes after over 13,000 unregistered vehicles; House bill scraps ‘vague’ crime of unjust vexation

Enforcers of the Land Transportation Office (LTO) issued in July traffic violation tickets to owners of 11,521 unregistered vehicles and impounded 1,531 vehicles without registration papers in line with its “No Registration, No Travel” policy. “Our aggressive campaign will continue against delinquent vehicle owners. I would like to remind our motorists that vehicle ownership comes with an obligation to register and renew the registration,” LTO chief and Assistant Secretary Vigor Mendoza II said in a statement on Thursday.

He added that registration also ensures the roadworthiness of vehicles, particularly those used for public transport. Among the unregistered vehicles apprehended were 7,459 motorcycles, 1,936 tricycles, 1,478 private vans and 23 vans being used for public transportation, 355 trucks and 95 sport utility vehicles. — JEROME ANING

House bill scraps ‘vague’ crime of unjust vexation

If Muntinlupa City Rep. Jaime Fresnedi’s House Bill No 10510 becomes a law, unjust vexation charges filed against persons will immediately be dropped and those convicted of the offense will be promptly released. The bill has been referred to the House committee on revision of laws. Fresnedi said that unlike other crimes, the definition of unjust vexation was up to the complainant, with some cases resulting in a conviction calling it a “catch-all crime.”

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“Our Constitution specifically forbids ex post facto laws. By criminalizing an act which is not defined as a crime at the time of commission, our courts effectively retroactively criminalize that act in violation of our Constitution.” HB 10510 seeks to amend Section 1 Article 287 of the Revised Penal Code, removing the provision stating the penalty for coercions or unjust vexations. —JEANNETTE I. ANDRADE