AT LEAST 500 motorists were apprehended in the month of July as the Cebu Police Provincial Office (CPPO) intensified its implementation of Republic Act (RA) 10054, or the Motorcycle Helmet Act of 2009, in all towns in Cebu.
CPPO Director Roderick Mariano issued on Saturday, Aug. 3, 2019, a memorandum directing all chiefs of police to conduct a checkpoint and apprehend violators of the law.
Mariano said this is part of their strict implementation of the “Discipline Zone” campaign, which was already launched in some municipalities last Aug. 1.
Under the Discipline Zone program, curfew hours from 10 p.m until 5 a.m will strictly be implemented, including the parking of vehicles on designated areas, mandating motorcycle riders to wear standard protective helmets and disallowing the sale of cigarettes and liquors to minors, among others.
He also said the memorandum is meant to remind motorists of their obligation to abide by the law and the police of their task to strictly implement it through the conduct of checkpoints.
“From July 1 to 31, 2019, we have apprehended 512 motorists in the province who are violators of this law. Now, we are intensifying our campaign against violators because maybe the police also forgot their task,” he said.
RA 10054 states that all motorcycle riders, including drivers and back riders, “shall at all times wear standard protective motorcycle helmets while driving, whether long or short drives, in any type of road and highway.”
Mariano, however, said he is aware that some municipalities are lax in implementing the law. He said some municipalities have passed their own ordinances allowing the use of modified helmets.
Standard protective motorcycle helmets are those that comply with the specifications issued by the Department of Trade and Industry.
Those caught violating the law will be fined P1,500 to P10,000. Repeat offenders will also have their license and motorcycle confiscated. (WBS)