Disregarding Traffic Signs Penalty Philippines 2026: ₱1,000 Under JAO 2014-01

Disregarding a traffic sign is ₱1,000 under Joint Administrative Order 2014-01, with no suspension and no repeat-offence ladder. It sits in the same ₱1,000 tier as illegal parking, illegal turns, obstruction and illegal overtaking.

The charge covers any regulatory sign: no entry, no left turn, no U-turn, one way, stop, yield, lane restrictions and posted truck bans. Running a red light and overspeeding are charged separately. Cities and the MMDA may add their own ordinance fine on top; the table below lists the ones on our fines page.

Aditya Aman, author and expressway expert based in Manila, PhilippinesBy Published Feb 7, 2026Updated Sep 17, 20265 min readEditorial PolicyLives in the Philippines and has driven nearly every Luzon expressway with his family.
Disregarding Traffic Signs Penalty Philippines 2026: ₱1,000 Under JAO 2014-01

The fine: ₱1,000, flat

JAO 2014-01 puts disregarding traffic signs in the ₱1,000 tier. The amount does not rise on a second or third offence, and no suspension attaches. It is an LTO fine, recorded on the licence until settled.

The tier is the largest group on the schedule. The table shows what else sits in it, so you can tell whether an enforcer has charged the right line. The red light violation and illegal parking pages cover the two neighbours drivers confuse with it.

Violation1st Offense
Disregarding traffic signs₱1,000
Illegal parking₱1,000
Illegal turn (left turn, U-turn where prohibited)₱1,000
Obstruction₱1,000
Illegal overtaking₱1,000
Cutting an overtaken vehicle or failing to give way₱1,000
Ask AI About This

What counts as a traffic sign

Regulatory signs carry the charge: the red-bordered circles and the red or blue rectangles that order or prohibit a movement. Warning signs (yellow diamonds) and guide signs (green or blue direction boards) do not; ignoring a warning sign is not an offence by itself.

A red light is a signal, not a sign, and is a separate ₱1,000 charge under the same order. Speed limit signs are enforced as reckless driving (₱2,000 and up), not on this line.

Charged as disregarding a signNo entry, one way, no left or right turn, no U-turn, stop, yield, no overtaking, truck ban, lane-use signs, no parking or no stopping
Charged separatelyRed light (₱1,000, separate line), speed limit (reckless driving ladder), number coding (MMDA or city ordinance)
Not an offenceWarning signs and guide signs; they carry no penalty

City and MMDA ordinances that add to the LTO fine

Local enforcers issue tickets under their own ordinances, and those fines are paid to the city, not the LTO. The amounts on our fines page for the most common cases are below; the LTO ₱1,000 still applies if an LTO or deputised enforcer issues the citation.

Truck bans and one-way schemes are the usual local charges. Check the city's ordinance number on the ticket before paying.

MMDA (Metro Manila arterials)Disregarding traffic signs ₱1,000; number coding ₱300 to ₱500 depending on the city
MakatiNumber coding and sign violations under city ordinance, ₱1,000 first offence, rising on repeat
Other citiesOrdinance fine printed on the ticket; typically ₱500 to ₱1,000

What happens after the ticket, since 9 January 2026

The enforcer keeps your licence in your hands and records the violation as an alert on the LTO record. You have 15 working days to settle at an LTO office or through the LTMS portal, or five days to contest in writing.

Unpaid after 15 working days, the licence is suspended for 30 days under JAO 2014-01 and the alert stays until both the fine and the suspension are cleared.

  1. Read the ticketConfirm the line charged is 'disregarding traffic signs' and not a red-light or reckless-driving line, and whether the issuer is LTO, MMDA or a city.
  2. Contest within 5 days if the sign was missing or obscuredPhotograph the sign and its position; a sign hidden by a tree, a vendor or a parked truck is the usual ground.
  3. Pay within 15 working daysLTO fines through the LTMS portal or an LTO office; ordinance fines at the city treasurer or the MMDA redemption office.
  4. Keep the receiptThe alert on the licence lifts only after the LTO records payment; carry the receipt until it does.
How to pay an LTO ticket

Sources for every figure on this page

Fine and tier: JAO 2014-01 (DOTC-LTO, 2 June 2014), as recorded on our LTO fines page, verified 13 September 2026. Procedure: DOTr MC 2026-001 and LTO MC MVL-2026-4846. Sign categories: DPWH Road Signs and Pavement Markings Manual, summarised on our road signs guide. City and MMDA figures: the ordinance table on the fines and number coding pages.

Know Your Toll Before You Go

Plan your trip budget with exact toll fees and fuel cost estimates.

Try the Toll Calculator

Frequently Asked Questions

How much is the fine for disregarding a traffic sign?

₱1,000 under JAO 2014-01, with no suspension and no increase for repeat offences. It is the same tier as illegal parking, illegal turns, obstruction and illegal overtaking. A city or MMDA ticket adds the ordinance fine printed on it, paid to the city.

Is a red light a traffic sign?

No. A red light is a signal and is charged on its own ₱1,000 line under JAO 2014-01. Disregarding a traffic sign covers regulatory signs: no entry, no turn, no U-turn, stop, yield, lane and truck-ban signs. Warning and guide signs carry no penalty.

Can I contest a disregarding-traffic-sign ticket?

Yes, in writing within five days at the LTO office named on the ticket. The usual ground is that the sign was missing, obscured or facing the wrong way; photograph it and its position the same day. The LTO has five days from receipt to decide.

Will my licence be suspended?

Not for the offence itself. Since 9 January 2026 the enforcer records an alert instead of taking the licence. The only suspension is the automatic 30 days if the ₱1,000 is not paid within 15 working days of the apprehension.

Magkano ang multa sa hindi pagsunod sa traffic sign?

₱1,000 ayon sa JAO 2014-01, walang suspensyon at hindi tumataas sa mga susunod na paglabag. Kung MMDA o city ang nagbigay ng ticket, may dagdag na multa ayon sa ordinansa na nakasulat sa ticket, na babayaran sa lungsod.

Related Guides