Tips

Driving through closed roads or barriers is a violation usually penalized as Disregarding Traffic Signs (DTS) or Reckless Driving, depending on what happened and which agency apprehended you. Under current LTO and MMDA rules, drivers may face fines starting at ₱1,000, plus added penalties like license suspension, demerit points, vehicle impounding, and even criminal charges if injuries or damage occur.

Also Read: Complete Guide to Road Classifications in the Philippines

Closed roads are not suggestions. When you see “Road Closed,” barricades, cones, or an enforcer directing traffic away, the law requires you to stop or reroute. Driving through because “you think you can make it” can put lives at risk and lead to higher penalties, especially in Metro Manila under the Single Ticketing System.

What Counts as a Closed Road or Barrier

A road is legally considered closed when any of the following are present:

• Physical barriers
  • Concrete barriers (such as those used on the EDSA Busway)
  • Water-filled plastic bollards
  • Steel gates or barricades
  • Caution tape blocking access
• Official signage
  • “Road Closed”
  • “No Entry”
  • “Do Not Enter”
  • “Road Closed to Thru Traffic”
• Pavement markings
  • Solid or double yellow lines
  • Painted exclusive zones (bike lanes, pedestrian zones) treated as barriers
• Direct orders from authorities
  • MMDA enforcers or police officers instructing vehicles to stop or reroute due to construction, flooding, accidents, or events

Important reminder: Flashing lights are optional. The sign itself is what makes the closure legal.

It usually happens when there are:

• Road works
• Flooded or muddy surfaces
• Accident scenes
• Workers actively clearing or repairing the road

Also Read: Tips to Help Drivers Safely Handle Emergency and Road Hazards

Risks

Moving or ignoring barricades can:

• Cause crashes
• Put road workers and other drivers in danger
• Lead to chain accidents when others follow your path

Penalties  

For these reasons, authorities consider this a violation and impose the following fines and penalties:

MMDA (Metro Manila)

• Disregarding Traffic Signs (DTS): ₱1,000 for all offenses
• Reckless Driving (if your action puts people or property at risk):
  • 1st offense: ₱1,000
  • 2nd offense: ₱1,000 + mandatory seminar
  • 3rd offense: ₱2,000 + mandatory seminar
• Obstruction (if you block traffic after entering): ₱1,000

Also Read: Safe Braking Distance on the Road

LTO (Nationwide)

• Violation of Traffic Rules and Regulations:
  • Common fine: ₱1,000
• Serious Reckless Driving:
  • ₱2,000 up to ₱10,000
  • Possible license suspension

Other Consequences for Drivers  

• Demerit points
  • DTS and related violations may add 2–4 points
  • 5 or more points require a mandatory reorientation course
• License suspension or revocation
  • Repeated or serious offenses may lead to 1–3 months suspension or worse
• Vehicle impounding
  • Your car or motorcycle may be held temporarily
• Criminal liability
  • If injuries or damage happen, cases may be filed under Article 365 of the Revised Penal Code

How to Avoid Getting Penalized

To ensure safety and avoid having to pay hefty fines, make sure to follow these tips:

• Slow down and read the sign — don’t rely on assumptions
• Follow detours immediately, even if it adds time
• Never move barricades or cones
• Check your citation status using the MMDA May Huli Ka portal if apprehended
• Allow extra travel time, especially during rains, construction, or events

Driving through closed roads or barriers is illegal, unsafe, and costly. When a road is closed, make sure to stop, reroute, and move on. It protects you—and everyone else on the road.

Driving with a cracked or damaged side mirror is generally not allowed and is treated as a driving violation. Under LTO rules, all vehicles must have clear and usable side mirrors. If a crack affects visibility, traffic enforcers can flag your vehicle as unroadworthy, issue a ticket, fine you, and even impound the vehicle until the mirror is fixed.

Also Read: Are Modified Bumpers and Bull Bars Allowed?

For many drivers, this feels frustrating—especially when the crack seems small. But from an enforcer’s point of view, a cracked side mirror can distort images, hide vehicles, and increase blind spots. If you keep driving with a damaged side mirror, you risk fines ranging from ₱1,500 to ₱5,000, access restrictions on expressways, and wasted time dealing with penalties instead of simply fixing the mirror early.

What the Rules Actually Say

Under Joint Administrative Order No. 2014-01 and Republic Act 4136, all motor vehicles must be in proper working condition, including having clear and usable side mirrors on both sides. A cracked or damaged side mirror that affects visibility is treated as defective equipment, making the vehicle unroadworthy under LTO rules and MVIS standards. Traffic enforcers may stop the vehicle, issue a citation, impose fines, and require repairs before the vehicle can legally continue on public roads.

Also Read: Are LED/Colored Lights Legal on Motorcycles?

Is Driving With a Cracked Side Mirror a Violation?

• Yes, if the crack:
  • Distorts reflections
  • Reduces field of view
  • Makes it hard to judge distance or vehicles behind you
• Enforcement reality:
  • A visibly cracked mirror is an easy reason for a traffic stop
  • Officers don’t measure crack size—usability matters more than appearance

How Cracked Mirrors are Classified

Under the existing rules, cracked mirrors are:

• Considered defective accessories, devices, or equipment
• A crack that distorts vision is treated the same as a broken or missing mirror

Fines and Penalties

According to the existing guidelines, cracked side mirrors may warrant the following fines and penalties:

• Fines
  • ₱1,500 in some local areas
  • Up to ₱5,000 under national LTO standards for defective equipment
• Vehicle impoundment
  • Vehicle may be held until the side mirror is repaired or replaced
• Motorcycle-specific notes
  • Motorcycles must also have two clear and usable side mirrors
  • Very small mirrors (around 3–4 fingers wide) may still be flagged if visibility is poor
• Expressway restrictions
  • Vehicles with damaged mirrors may be barred from NLEX, SLEX, and similar roads

Why Side Mirrors Matter  

The law is quite strict when it comes to side mirrors because it is important for drivers in the following ways:

• Help you:
  • See vehicles in blind spots
  • Change lanes safely
  • Merge without turning your head away from the road
• A cracked mirror can:
  • Make vehicles appear warped or misplaced
  • Increase accident risk during lane changes

How Much Does It Cost to Fix?

To avoid trouble with the law and to ensure safety on the road, it’s always best to get your side mirrors fixed when you notice the damage. Here’s how much it could cost you:

• Aftermarket mirrors
  • Around ₱500 to ₱4,000, depending on model
• Newer vehicles
  • Higher cost due to:
    • Power adjustment
    • Auto-fold
    • Integrated signals

Tip:

• Older, simple models are cheaper to repair
• For modern cars, contact your dealer or trusted mechanic

Also Read: What Is the Minimum Displacement Allowed on Expressways?

What To Do

If you are a driver or a car owner, here are some tips for you:

• If your side mirror is cracked:
  • Replace it as soon as possible
  • Avoid long drives or expressways until fixed
• Before driving:
  • Check if both mirrors are clear and stable
  • Clean mirrors regularly to improve visibility
• If stopped by an enforcer:
  • Stay calm and polite
  • Ask which rule applies
  • Fix the issue immediately to avoid repeat penalties

Remember: Driving with cracked side mirrors is a violation. So, if your mirror is damaged—even a little—it’s best to repair it now rather than deal with penalties later. Plus, it is cheaper, safer, and saves you both time and money if you get it fixed early.

In the Philippines, pets are not outright banned from the front seat of private vehicles, but safety and distracted driving rules still apply. For public utility vehicles (PUVs) like jeepneys, buses, and UV Express, pets are generally not allowed in the front seat and must follow strict placement and containment rules set by the LTFRB.

Also Read: What is a Motor Vehicle Car: Types and Purpose

Though many pet owners want to keep their pets close during travel, the law is clear: driver distraction and passenger safety cannot be compromised. An unrestrained pet in the front seat—especially on the driver’s lap—can be treated as a traffic violation and may put both humans and pets at risk.

Understanding the Rules

Though there is no law that directly bans pets from the front seat of private vehicles, the Anti-Distracted Driving Act (RA 10913) prohibits any activity—including handling or carrying a pet—that distracts the driver or interferes with safe vehicle control. For public utility vehicles (PUVs), the LTFRB Memorandum Circular No. 2020-003 lays the ground rules on public transport pet travel.

Private Vehicles

There is no specific Philippine law that directly bans pets from the front passenger seat of a private car. However, several rules still apply:

• Anti-Distracted Driving Act (RA 10913)
  • Covers any activity that distracts the driver, not just phones
  • A pet sitting on the driver’s lap or blocking the steering wheel or view may fall under distracted driving
  • This can lead to penalties similar to other distracted driving violations
• Safety concerns during accidents
  • Front-seat airbags deploy with strong force
  • Pets in the front seat can suffer serious injury during airbag deployment
  • This risk applies even during low-speed collisions
• What drivers should do instead
  • Place pets in the back seat
  • Use a pet seatbelt or a secured carrier
  • Keep pets away from pedals, steering wheels, and airbags

Plain rule to remember: If your pet affects your control, vision, or focus, it may already be considered a violation.

Also Read: When is it Allowed to Overtake on a Curve 

Public Utility Vehicles (PUVs): Front Seat Is Not Allowed

For jeepneys, buses, UV Express, and P2P buses, the rules are clearer under LTFRB Memorandum Circular No. 2020-003.

Pets cannot occupy the front seat and must meet these conditions:

• Allowed pets
  • Only small to medium-sized dogs and cats
  • Large and giant dogs are not allowed
• Containment
  • Pets must be inside a clean cage or carrier
  • Carriers must be free from foul odor
• Placement
  • Pets must be placed beside the owner
  • Owner must pay a fare equal to one passenger seat used by the pet
• Cleanliness
  • Pets must wear diapers throughout the trip
• Driver discretion
  • Drivers and operators may refuse pets if safety or passenger comfort is affected

Also Read: What Happens to Vehicles Declared as Total Loss?

Other Transport Services and Front Seat Rules

Some other rules for pet travel on other transport service are aa follows:

• GrabPet (select Metro Manila areas)
  • Pets must be in carriers
  • Diapers required
  • Front seat use is not allowed
• LRT-2 and MRT-3
  • Only small dogs and cats
  • Must be inside carriers (max 2 ft x 2 ft)
  • Allowed only in the end coach
  • Pets stay on the owner’s lap or at their feet
• Philippine Airlines (in-cabin pets on select routes)
  • Passengers with pets cannot sit in forward or exit row seats

How Pet Owners Can Avoid this Violation

To ensure that you won’t be at risk of being fined for bringing your pet around, make sure to observe the following:

• Do not place pets on the driver’s lap
• Avoid the front seat whenever possible
• Use carriers or pet seatbelts
• Follow LTFRB rules strictly when riding PUVs
• When unsure, choose safety over convenience

Note that while pets in the front seat are not outright illegal in private cars, they can still lead to a violation if they distract the driver or create safety risks. In PUVs, pets can travel, but only if the LTFRB rules are followed.