QuestionsQuestions (Act No. 2159)
“Motor vehicles” are vehicles propelled by power other than muscular power, except traction engines, road rollers, street sweepers and sprinklers, lawn mowers, and vehicles that run only on rails or tracks.
“Highways” include every highway open to public thoroughfare and also public boulevards, driveways, avenues, parks, parkways, plazas, squares, places, streets, roads, alleys, and “callejon.” “Callejon” is included as part of the covered road spaces.
An “operator” includes every person operating a motor vehicle whether or not he is licensed.
“Owner” includes, when context requires, not only the legal owner but also the person in lawful possession entitled to give commands and directions. For publicly owned motor vehicles, the owner is the head of the office or chief of the bureau to which the vehicle belongs (unless the context requires a different interpretation).
No motor vehicle shall be used or operated on any highway unless registered under the Act, and not by any person who has not been licensed to operate such motor vehicle under the Act.
Within sixty (60) days after the Act becomes effective.
Within thirty-six (36) hours after acquisition.
Ten pesos for each motor vehicle having more than three wheels; five pesos for every other such vehicle.
Vehicles with more than three wheels must bear a number plate at the front and another at the rear; vehicles with three wheels or fewer must bear the plate at the rear. Plates must be conspicuous, firmly affixed so they do not swing, kept clean, and remain visible and legible whether the vehicle is in motion or not.
The former owner must notify the Director of Public Works in writing of the change in ownership, including purchaser/new owner details, certificate registration number, and number plate numbers, with the required fee.
The owner may obtain a duplicate upon proof satisfactory to the Director of Public Works and payment of one peso for each certificate and each number plate.
The Director of Public Works may require answers under oath, may require further questions or an examination to disclose fitness and competency, and may issue a chauffeur’s license (upon fee payment) for the kinds/styles/makes/power described, unless the applicant is not qualified.
No license shall be issued to any person under eighteen (18) years of age, and no person under eighteen may be permitted to operate a motor vehicle upon any highway.
Section 19 prohibits owners/dealers/garage proprietors/chiefs of bureau/heads of office from hiring or employing unlicensed operators; violators face fines (and possible imprisonment for those renting vehicles to the public). Section 20 allows inspection; if unsafe, the Director may refuse registration or revoke/suspend it, and operating after notice/suspension can incur fines; injury/damage may trigger criminal liability under the referenced Penal Code offense.
They must keep a book with prescribed blank columns recording each vehicle’s departure/return time, the chauffeur operating it, the person to whom it is rented/loaned/hired, and other required info. Failure subjects the offender to fines; upon a second conviction, the Director may revoke the offender’s license.
Owners cannot lend/sell/give away certificates, number plates, or marks except upon lawful transfer of the vehicle; and licenses/permits cannot be lent/sold/given. Misuse or swapping plates/marks/certificates and theft of these items is punished with fines and/or imprisonment depending on the act.
Section 24 prohibits reckless driving and speeding beyond what is reasonable and proper, and prohibits endangering persons/rights or causing excessive damage; it also prohibits unreasonable obstruction of passage. Section 25 requires turning left when meeting and turning right when overtaking, subject to safety exceptions; when turning right from one highway to another, vehicles must be conducted to the left of the center of the intersection.