BY GEROME DALIPE IV
ILOILO City – The House of Representatives has approved on second reading House Bill (HB) 11113, which aims to address concerns about rider safety and the imposition of excessive penalties under Republic Act (RA) 11235, also known as the Motorcycle Crime Prevention Act.
It introduces several key amendments to ensure a fairer and more practical implementation.
The proposed amendments include reducing penalties, removing imprisonment for minor violations, and implementing more rider-friendly provisions while maintaining measures against the misuse of motorcycles for criminal purposes.
Also proposed were the mandatory timelines for registering motorcycles by dealers and subsequent owners.
Dealers will be required to submit an annual report on the status of repossessed motorcycles under their custody.
The bill also establishes a 72-hour timeline for reporting lost, damaged, or stolen number plates.
It also reduces fines for failure to comply with registration requirements from P20,000 – P50,000 to not more than P5,000 and removes the penalty of imprisonment.
In addition, the measure lowers penalties for driving without the required number plate from 50,000 – P100,000 to not more than P5,000, with no imprisonment.
A fine of not more than P10,000, instead of imprisonment, will be imposed if a lost or stolen plate is used in a crime.
The bill also allows flagging such vehicles unless the owner presents proof of ownership or if the issue is not the owner’s fault.
It also allows redemption of permits of motorcycles seized or impounded after obtaining Land Transportation Office (LTO) clearance and complying with number plate requirements.
The measure also reduces the penalty for tampering, altering, or forging number plates to imprisonment (2 years and 1 day to 6 years) and a fine of P10,000, replacing heavier penalties under the previous law.
Those found guilty of selling or buying fake plates shall be penalized in such activities with imprisonment (6 months and 1 day to 2 years) and a fine of P10,000.
Persons found using stolen plates will also be fined up to P20,000 without prejudice to prosecution under other laws.
Iloilo City’s Cong. Julienne Baronda, the bill’s principal author, highlighted the importance of revising the law to reflect the feedback of the motorcycle community while preserving its original intent of preventing crimes involving motorcycles.
These amendments aim to balance stricter enforcement against misuse while addressing riders’ safety concerns and mitigating overly harsh penalties, she stressed.
She added that these changes reflect feedback from stakeholders and ensure that policies adapt to modern needs./PN
