QuestionsQuestions (Republic Act No. 11235)
Republic Act No. 11235 is the “Motorcycle Crime Prevention Act.” Its short title is the same: it aims to prevent and penalize the use of motorcycles in crimes by requiring bigger, readable, and color-coded number plates and identification marks.
A “Motorcycle” is a powered two (2) or three (3)-wheeled motor vehicle, including scooters, mopeds, and motorcycles with appendages such as sidecars, tricycles or trikes, and it includes government-owned vehicles.
The “Owner” includes the person who owns or is the registered owner of the motorcycle, and it also includes any person who has actual control and possession of the motorcycle, whether it is registered or not.
The owner must register the motorcycle with the LTO within five (5) days from acquisition of ownership.
Failure subjects the owner to imprisonment of arresto mayor to prison correccional, or a fine of not less than ₱20,000 but not more than ₱50,000, or both.
The maximum penalty of the relevant offense is imposed on the offenders.
The contents must be readable from the front, back, and side of the motorcycle from at least fifteen (15) meters away.
It must be displayed on both the front and back sides. It must be made of suitable and durable material as determined by the LTO.
It is prohibited. The driver is punished by prison correccional or a fine of not less than ₱50,000 but not more than ₱100,000. The driver must be stopped; the motorcycle is seized by law enforcers and surrendered to the PNP, and apprehensions must be reported immediately to the LTO, PNP, and DICT through the Joint LTO and PNP Operations and Control Center.
By proving ownership, paying seizure costs, and complying with the requirements for a number plate/readable number plate.
The apprehending officer must report immediately to the LTO and PNP and surrender the motorcycle within twenty-four (24) hours to the local impounding center. Failure to report or surrender within 24 hours subjects the law enforcer to prison correccional (without prejudice to administrative charges).
The law enforcement officer is held monetarily liable for the full worth of the motorcycle lost or the cost of repairs for the damage.
For grave felonies (or escape from such crime), the owner/driver/backrider/passenger who participated is punished by reclusion temporal to reclusion perpetua. For less grave or light felonies (or escape from such crime), the participating owner/driver/backrider/passenger is punished by prison correccional or prison mayor.
The penalty is reclusion perpetua.
The PNP impounds it as evidence in custodia legis in a secured impounding center until termination of the case. Afterward, the motorcycle is forfeited in favor of the government unless the court finds the defendant not guilty or the motorcycle belongs to an innocent third party.
Erasing, tampering, altering, forging, imitating, covering, or concealing a number plate/readable number plate, or the intentional use of such altered plate, is punished by prison mayor or a fine of not less than ₱50,000 but not more than ₱100,000, or both.
The owner must immediately report to the LTO and PNP through the Joint Operations Center and request a replacement. Failure to report results in a fine of not less than ₱20,000 but not more than ₱50,000. If the lost/damaged/stolen plate is used in an offense and the owner fails to report within three (3) days, the owner faces imprisonment of arresto mayor or prison correccional.
They must renew their registration and apply for the required readable number plate not later than June 30, 2019.
After December 31, 2019. The LTO is given until December 31, 2019 to produce, release, and issue the required number plates.