THE Land Transportation Office (LTO) has released the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) for Republic Act (RA) 11235, which requires bigger, readable and color-coded number plates and identification marks on all motorcycles.
RA 11235, or the Motorcycle Crime and Prevention Act, was approved by President Rodrigo Duterte on March 8, 2019.
The 13-page IRR signed by LTO Chief Edgar Galvante says if the motorcycle license plate is lost, damaged or stolen, the owner must report to the police or LTO within 72 hours and file a notarized affidavit for replacing the plate number.
“Failure of the owner to report the same and apply for replacement plate from the LTO within the periods prescribed herein shall subject the owner to a fine of not less than P20,000 but not more than P50,000,” Section 12 of the IRR states.
Erasing, tampering, forging, imitating, covering, concealing the plate number or intentional use carries a fine ranging from P50,000 to P100,000 in accordance with Section 13 of the IRR. Attaching the plate number to other motorcycles carries the same penalties.
According to Section 14 of the IRR, a rider found guilty of using a stolen plate number will be jailed or fined up to P100,000, or both, depending on the court’s ruling.
A motorist driving a motorcycle with no license plate or whose license plate cannot be read will face fines ranging from P50,000 to P100,000.
Purchased motorcycles must be registered within five days to avoid fines ranging from P20,000 to P50,000, or arrest. The owner of the motorcycle used in a crime will be fined P50,000.
Based on the IRR, the color of the license plates in Central Visayas is orange. Two license plates must be attached to the motorcycle—one at the front, the other at the rear.
The front license plate must be decals, while the metal number plate must be installed in the rear.
The metal plate must be 235 millimeters in width and 135 millimeters in height. The font size for all alpha numeric characters is 60 millimeters tall.
The decal plate must be 135 millimeters in width and 85 millimeters in height. The font size for all alpha numeric characters is 40 millimeters tall.
RA 11235 was passed in January 2019 to prevent rogues from using motorcycles in drive-by shootings and other crimes. (PAC)