MANILA -- The new law requiring bigger and more readable number plates for motorcycles is not meant to discriminate riders, the country's top cop said Monday.
“This is not discriminatory. This is all part of improvement in the peace and security of the whole nation. Let's see. I'm sure we will not do something that will make our motorcycles look bad and just as I said, it will be for the good of everyone, especially for peace and security," Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, Gen. Oscar Albayalde, told reporters Monday.
Albayalde, who is also a motorcycle enthusiast, made the remark after some groups of motorcycle riders claimed the law poses hazards.
“This is part of security of the whole country. In general, we can avoid riding-in-tandem incidents. Remember, this crime is perpetrated by suspects riding in motorcycles and it is hard to see the plate number because right now, it is small," he said.
On March 8, President Rodrigo Duterte signed Republic Act 11235 or the Motorcycle Crime Prevention Ac, which seeks to curb crimes being perpetrated by motorcycle-riding suspects.
The law mandates the Land Transportation Office (LTO) to produce bigger, readable, and color-coded number plates readable from the front, back, and side of the motorcycle from a distance of at least 15 meters.
The new law will penalize motorcycle drivers not using the readable plates with prision correccional (imprisonment between six months and one day to six years) as stated in the Revised Penal Code or pay a fine of not less than PHP50,000 but not more than PHP100,000 or both.
Under the new law, authorities can apprehend motorcycle riders and seize their vehicles if it does not have the proper number plate. The motorcycle owner can only retrieve it after complying with the requirement.
Owners, drivers or passengers of the motorcycles, which participated in the commission of a crime, would be punished by reclusion temporal (imprisonment between 12 years and one day to 20 years) or reclusion perpetua (imprisonment for at least 30 years).
If a motorcycle is used in the commission of a crime constituting light felony, the owner, driver, backrider or passenger would be punished by prision correccional to prision mayor (imprisonment between six years and one day to 12 years).
If the unlawful use of motorcycle would result in death or serious physical injuries, the penalty of reclusion perpetua would be imposed.
The newly-signed law ordered the LTO to conduct consultations with law enforcement agencies and other stakeholders for the Implementing Rules and Regulations. (PNA)
