Motorcycle headlight, bigger plate bills move up in House

Over 2,000 motorcycle riders attend the launch of the PNP’s ‘Clean Rider’ program at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila in an effort to prevent the use of the two-wheeled vehicles for criminal activities. In Congress, bills have been filed to mandate anticrime measures like having bigger license plates for motorcycle. INQUIRER FILE / RICHARD A. REYES

Bills requiring motorcycle riders to have their headlights turned on at all times and have bigger plate numbers are now closer to becoming a law after the House of Representatives approved the proposed measures on second reading.

The lower chamber approved on second reading House Bill No. 8322 or the “Mandatory Automatic Headlights On for Motorcycles Act” and House Bill No. 8419 or the “Motorcycle Crime Prevention Act” through voice or viva voce voting last Tuesday.

Once HB 8322 is enacted into law, all motorcycles may only run on any road with their headlights turned on at all times.

The bill also mandates motorcycle manufacturers to equip their products with an automatic headlights-on system.

HB 8322 seeks to impose fines ranging from P1,000 to P5,000 or suspension of license for riders who will violate it. Manufacturers who will violate will face fines ranging from P5,000 to P20,000 or suspension of license to manufacture.

On the other hand, HB 8419 mandates the Land Transportation Office to provide a bigger plate number with alphanumeric characters in a large font readable from a distance of at least 12 meters from the motorcycle.

Once enacted into law, a rider driving without a bigger plate number will be apprehended and his or her motorcycle impounded. He or she may redeem the motorcycle once he or she complied with the measure and paid assessed fines.

HB 8419 also penalizes riders and/or passengers who use a motorcycle in committing a crime or as an escape vehicle.

Catanduanes Rep. Cesar Sarmiento, House transportation panel chair, sponsored the bills. /cbb