Helmet Law takes effect, 67 violators in Cebu
At least 67 violators in Cebu were apprehended yesterday on the first day of enforcment of the Motorcycle Helmet Act of 2009.
The Land Transportation Office (LTO) deployed deputized agents along major roads.
One of the checkpoints was across their office in Natalio Bacalso Avenue, Cebu City.
Under the law, violators willl be fined P1,500 for the first offense, P3,000 for the second offense, P5,000 for the third offense and P10,000 plus confiscation of the driver’s license for the fourth and succeeding offenses.
According to LTO – 7 Regional Director Raul Aguilos, 67 individuals were caught driving or riding a motorcycle without wearing crash helmets prescribed by Republic Act 10054 otherwise known as the Helmet Act of 2009.
Aguilos noted stiff resistance from several motorists but downplayed the complaints saying the public had ample time to prepare for the new policy which was supposed to be implemented in August last year.
“If they would ask for the legal basis of the Helmet Act, the LTO is no longer the venue for that,” Aguilos said.
The crash helmet is required for riders and drivers of motorcycles for safety on the road to protect them in the event of life-threatening accidents.
Under the law, the standard protective helmet has the sticker of the Import Commodity Clearance (ICC) or Philippine Standard (PS) mark from the Dept. of Trade and Industry which accredits brands of helmets that pass quality standards and specifications provided by RA 10054.
Aguilos warned motorists :“Basta wala’y ICC sticker ang ilang helmet, automatic na dakup na sya, bisan prescribed. Pero bisan naa’y sticker, nya di prescribed helmet, dakup gihapon na siya.”
(If the helmet does not have the ICC sticker, even it is a prescribed model, we will apprehend the user. Even if it has a sticker, but is not the presecribed type of helmet, we still apprehend the user.)
