Duterte to suspend implementation of motorcycle plate law
Credit to Author: CATHERINE S. VALENTE, TMT| Date: Sat, 06 Apr 2019 14:35:14 +0000
President Rodrigo Duterte on Saturday said he would suspend the implementation of the Motorcycle Crime Prevention Act which was strongly opposed by some groups.
In a speech at the 25th annual convention of the National Federation of the Motorcycle Clubs of the Philippines in Iloilo City, Duterte said he would talk to the Land Transportation Office (LTO) and Sen. Richard Gordon, author of Republic Act 11235 or the Motorcycle Crime Prevention Act, about his proposal.
“I will try to convince the LTO to maybe hang onto it, i-suspend ko lang muna, kasi (I will suspend it for the meantime, because) it is not good. It is dangerous to place another gadget, lalo na may kanto ang plate number eh (especially the plate number has sharp corners),” Duterte said.
“Lakihan na lang ninyo ang plate number sa likod by one-fourth para makita talaga yung number. Ang importante talaga yung sa likod (Increase the size of the rear plate by one-fourth so that the number will be more visible. The rear is more important),” he added.
The President explained that he signed the measure into law upon the recommendation of the police and military.
He also mentioned that in other countries, “walang plate number sa harap. Diyan lang iyan sa likod (There are no plate numbers in front, only at the back).”
Duterte said the prescribed fine of between P50,000 and P100,000 for those who will be caught without bigger license plates was too high.
“Maybe as compromise, I’m willing [to lower it to] P10,000 to P15,000,” the President said.
The law, signed by Duterte on March 8, requires motorcycles to have bigger, color-coded number plates that are readable from the front, back and side of the motorcycle from a distance of at least 15 meters.
Motorcycle drivers groups have raised a howl of protest, saying the law may place riders at risk.
They claimed that bigger front plates may be detached at high speed and may cause injuries.
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