THE Republic Act (RA) 11235 or Motorcycle Crime Prevention Law and its revised IRR or simply “doble plaka” to riders is a double whammy move against the riders and motorcycle users, impoverishing them further through more fees and increasing their risks on the road.
It is apparent that the legislators see the law as a revenue generation measure by exacting higher and crippling fines against violators. More opportunity for collection, more sources of corruption, as most people know.
The seasoned vultures in the LTO, the law’s chief enforcer, most likely take it as an accolade for their massive revenue-generating campaigns the past years. I am sure they are gloating over this added opportunity to rake “quota funds” from poor riders.
The legislators see it less as anti-crime prevention.
They know that crimes can be committed anywhere, anytime and with whatever means available to the criminals and suited to the conditions of crime commission.
They know that the cold-blooded criminals are heartless, daring and creative in their means of achieving their evil purpose; and that they are predators who strike at the most unguarded moment of both their victims and law enforcers.
They know that the high-end and petty criminals are equipped with deadly weapons and modern technologies, use fast and low speed cars and motorcycles, for their operations and get away.
They know that criminals, even the accidental ones, are fearless in everything just to get what they want. The only thing they are afraid of is when they are caught and brought to prison.
They also know that some of these criminals belong to wealthy and influential people who finance and or cuddle such actions for their business and political ends.
In short, the law is a product of creatively malicious minds, bereft of social relevance, good governance and engineering science.
Where in the world can one find a law specifically targeting motorcycle as instrument of crimes? None. There is only one law governing all vehicles, two, four-wheeled, multiple-wheeled, and so in terms of penalties.
Technically, motorcycle design conforms to established engineering dynamics, aerodynamics, mechanical dynamics, weight dynamics, braking dynamics, tire dynamics, shock absorber dynamics, industrial dynamics, and human behavior dynamics.
Even the most experienced motorcycle & vehicle technician or engineer cannot just put additional peripherals in the motorcycle which could change its overall dynamics, like a big plate on the dashboard and rear, which could logically affect its aerodynamic performance. The same is true for vehicles in general.
If one asked what about motorcycles turned three-wheeled tricycles and habal-habals where they have a lot of novelties?
Well, as we always say, necessity is the mother of inventions. Thanks to our local riders and mechanics for their ingenuous and indigenous innovations who know exactly motorcycle design and dynamics suited in a particular terrain or topography.
In all, the doble plaka law is not only a technical revision of motorcycle engineering, but also an admission of the failure of law enforcement systems to curve criminalities in the country, and a proof of the deep bureaucratic corruption in the system.
As many of fellow riders noted, why push the implementation of this law and its IRR when there are many other urgent and important concerns confronting the Filipino people, including the riders, like Covid-19, unemployment, landlessness, hunger and poverty?
The reasons or motive is obvious.
Personally, I will push among riders and concerned citizens groups to work for immediate TRO, while campaigning for its repeal.
No ifs or buts. More power to all riders!