MANILA, Philippines — The head of the Land Transportation Office (LTO) has stood by the issuance of a reckless driving citation against the teenage son of motoring vlogger James Deakin, calling the enforcement action justified even as the incident sparked widespread discussion online.
LTO Chief Assistant Secretary Markus Lacanilao repeatedly said the violation stemmed from a traffic stop last December on Skyway Stage 3, where authorities allege the driver crossed a double solid yellow line—an act prohibited under universal traffic rules—in front of a traffic enforcer. The vehicle was also found to be unregistered at the time, with only importer‑to‑dealer paperwork rather than a valid certificate of registration, which further triggered the reckless driving classification under LTO guidelines.
Deakin went public with his dismay on social media, describing the experience as a “nightmare” and questioning the LTO’s handling of the case. He argued that what occurred was essentially a simple lane violation and raised concerns about how the ticket’s classification could impact his son’s record, including future job prospects, insurance and international travel.
Lacanilao clarified that reckless driving as defined in traffic regulations is an administrative offense, not a criminal charge unless it results in injury or property damage, and that such classification does not leave a permanent criminal record for the driver. He also noted that the Deakins were given a five‑day window to contest the citation but did not file an appeal within that period.
Beyond defending the citation itself, the LTO has taken steps to investigate the incident further, including issuing show‑cause and subpoena orders to both the traffic enforcer involved and the vehicle dealer for allowing the unregistered car onto public roads. Officials also temporarily suspended the personnel handling the license release process while the inquiry continues, underscoring the agency’s commitment to transparency and accountability in the case.