Title
Ban on Right-Hand Steering Vehicles Operation
Law
Republic Act No. 8506
Decision Date
Feb 13, 1998
Republic Act No. 8506 prohibits the registration and operation of vehicles with right-hand steering wheels in the Philippines, with exceptions for vintage automobiles, vehicles used in motorsports events, and off-road special purpose vehicles, and violators may face imprisonment and a fine of fifty thousand pesos.

Questions (DOJ)

It prohibits any person from importing, causing the importation, registering, causing registration, using, or operating any vehicle with the steering wheel on the right-hand side in any highway, street, or road (private or public, national or local), except for the specified exemptions.

Importation/importation-causing; registration/registration-causing; use; and operation of a right-hand steering vehicle on the covered roads.

Any highway, street, or road—whether private or public and whether of the national or local government.

Vehicles acknowledged as vintage automobiles, manufactured before 1960, in showroom condition; and/or vehicles utilized exclusively for officially and legally sanctioned motorsports events; and off-road special purpose vehicles.

It covers importation and registration as well; it is unlawful to import/cause importation, register/cause registration, use, or operate.

“Any person” violating the Act’s provisions, which includes those who import, register, use, or operate right-hand steering vehicles in the prohibited context.

Prision correccional in its medium period and a fine of Fifty Thousand Pesos (P50,000).

It refers to the medium period portion of the penalty of prision correccional under the Revised Penal Code’s rules on periods (i.e., prision correccional is divided into minimum, medium, and maximum periods).

Fixed. It expressly states a fine of Fifty Thousand Pesos (P50,000).

Immediately after complete publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) national newspapers of general circulation.

It is a condition for effectivity; the law takes effect immediately after complete publication in the Official Gazette or in two national newspapers of general circulation.

Not necessarily. The exemption for vintage automobiles requires, as stated, that they be acknowledged as vintage automobiles, manufactured before 1960, and in showroom condition.

No. The exemption covers vehicles utilized exclusively for officially and legally sanctioned motorsports events.

The Act exempts off-road special purpose vehicles, but the exemption is tied to their off-road special purpose use; the key is that they are off-road special purpose vehicles rather than regular road use.

Yes. The law expressly includes “cause the importation” and “cause the registration,” making the person who causes these acts liable.

Section 1 covers “any highway, street or road, whether private or public,” so private roads within the covered terms are still included.


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