1,300 pillion riders cited for traffic violations

MANILA, Philippines — The joint task force coronavirus disease (JTF COVID) shield cited for traffic violations on Saturday some 1,300 motorcyclists nationwide for allowing pillion riding without barriers and taking on passengers who were neither their spouses nor live-in partners.

JTF COVID shield commander Police Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar said on Sunday that the 1,350 violators of the motorcycle back-riding regulation were only on the first day of enforcement, following a 22-day grace period, which gave motorcyclists nationwide enough time to comply with the barrier requirement as a precaution against COVID-19 transmission.

In an interview at radio station dzBB on Sunday, Eleazar said that out of the 1,350 violators, there were 1,284 motorcyclists who had no barriers, 580 of whom had unauthorized passengers. Unauthorized passengers are neither their spouses nor live-in partners.

He noted that there were 66 motorcycle riders who used barriers, but whose licenses were confiscated and were issued temporary operators’ permits (TOP) for having unauthorized passengers.

Eleazar pointed out that the absence of a barrier on a motorcycle is considered reckless driving while having an unauthorized passenger amounts to overloading. In both cases, driver’s licenses are confiscated and TOPs are issued.

He said that the Land Transportation Office has imposed a fine of up to P2,000 for the first offense; P3,000 for a second offense; and up to P10,000 for succeeding offenses.