Automotive vlogger and road-safety advocate James Deakin has publicly criticized the Land Transportation Office (LTO), accusing the agency of applying a “double standard” and mishandling the traffic violation case involving his son. The row ignited after the LTO held a press briefing about the incident — a move Deakin said deflected attention from more pressing procedural issues.
Deakin clarified that the incident — which occurred on December 18, 2025 on Skyway Stage 3 — involved his teenage son crossing a double solid line while driving. The family accepted responsibility, paid the corresponding fines, and did not contest the ticket within the five-day deadline given by traffic enforcers.
However, Deakin questioned why the violation was elevated to reckless driving, particularly after the LTO later asserted that the vehicle was unregistered and lacked proper documents. The vlogger said the additional revelation came only after the press conference and was never cited in the original ticket, calling the sequence of events confusing and inconsistent.
“The main issue was the 15-day deadline that included days the LTO was closed and the paperwork demanded that does not appear in the Citizens Charter,” Deakin wrote on social media, stressing that his grievance was about procedural fairness, not the offence itself. He added that the press conference addressed a question “nobody asked” — whether his son violated traffic rules — instead of the bureaucratic concerns that sparked public debate.
Deakin also described the public airing of his son’s case as a violation of due process and “trial by publicity,” especially since he was not shown the evidence before it was broadcast. He has filed a formal grievance and appeared at a hearing before the Anti-Red Tape Authority seeking clarification on the LTO’s processes.
The LTO, led by Assistant Secretary Markus Lacanilao, has defended its stance, saying that the combination of crossing a double solid line and driving an unregistered vehicle constitutes reckless driving under existing rules. The agency has also issued show-cause orders against the vehicle dealer for releasing a car without proper documentation and placed the traffic enforcer involved under review.
Deakin’s public complaint resonated with some members of the motoring community, who echoed concerns about inconsistent application of rules and procedural burdens at the LTO. Meanwhile, transport officials maintain that enforcement actions were based on their interpretation of the law and that due process was observed.
