Motor Vehicle Traffic Regulation Act 1912

Coverage and registration requirement

Section 2 prohibits the use or operation of any motor vehicle in, along, or upon any highway of the Philippine Islands unless the vehicle is registered under the Act and operated by a person licensed under the Act.
Section 2 treats motor vehicles belonging to the Government of the United States, the Government of the Philippine Islands or any of its subdivisions, and motor vehicles of provincial, city, or municipal governments as registered if they bear signs/legends indicating the department, bureau, or political subdivision, and bear the required number plates under Section 7, which plates are issued free by the Director of Public Works.
Section 3 requires every person who owns or possesses a motor vehicle to file an application statement within sixty days after the Act becomes effective for each motor vehicle, to the Director of Public Works or to the office of the district engineer.
Section 3 requires acquisition of a motor vehicle not registered under the Act to be reported by filing a like statement within thirty-six hours after acquisition.

Applications, fees, certificates, and registers

Section 3 requires the application statement to include:
- the owner’s name, place of residence, and address;
- a brief description of each vehicle including name/style/type, makers’ name, maker’s stamped/affixed number (if any), number of wheels, character of motive power, and the amount stated in figures of horsepower;
- additional information including cedula number and date, and place of issue as the Director of Public Works may require.
Section 4 requires payment of a registration/application fee of ten pesos for each motor vehicle having more than three wheels, or five pesos for every other vehicle.
Section 5 requires the Director of Public Works to register or record the application and fee in the “Motor Vehicle Register” and to issue the applicant a numbered certificate of registration in duplicate for each separate vehicle.
Section 6 requires each certificate of registration to contain its number, date of registration, and the application information, and provides that the certificate follows the vehicle into the hands of subsequent owners while registration remains in force.
Section 18 requires the Director of Public Works to keep in his Manila office a register of all licenses issued to owners and chauffeurs, recording licensee information (including names, addresses, ages) and license issue dates, and to preserve applications in an orderly manner to be readily accessible.

Number plates, placement, and standards

Section 7 requires the Director of Public Works to issue duplicate number plates with a distinctive number for each motor vehicle having more than three wheels, and to issue one such number plate for every other motor vehicle.
Section 8 requires all number plates to be determined by the Director of Public Works as to color/size/design and to contain Arabic numerals with length of not less than one decimeter, with each stroke of not less than one centimeter in thickness.
Section 9 requires:
- vehicles with more than three wheels to bear one plate conspicuously on the front and the other conspicuously on the rear;
- all other motor vehicles to bear the plate conspicuously on the rear.
Section 9 requires plates to be firmly affixed so they will not swing, and to be kept clean and carefully maintained so the number remains visible and legible whether the vehicle is moving or not.

Transfer, duplicates, and dealer registrations

Section 10 makes it the duty of the former owner to notify the Director of Public Works in writing of any sale or change of ownership, stating:
- the buyer/new owner’s name, residence, and address;
- the vehicle’s certificate number;
- the number borne on its number plate(s).
Section 10 requires the transfer notification to be accompanied by a fee of fifty centavos, and requires the Director of Public Works to record the new owner’s details in the Motor Vehicle Register so ownership can be ascertained.
Section 10 provides that an indorsement on the back of a certificate of registration signed by the person in whose name the certificate was issued and substantially in the required transfer form is sufficient evidence of the purchaser/transferee’s ownership for purposes of the Act.
Section 10 allows the seller to retain the vehicle number only if he notifies the Director of Public Works; the purchaser must then obtain new number plates upon payment of the fee fixed in the next succeeding section.
Section 11 requires the Director of Public Works to issue duplicate registration certificates and/or number plates upon satisfactory proof of loss or destruction, after payment of one peso for each certificate and each number plate issued.
Section 12 allows motor vehicle dealers to obtain a general certificate of registration and a general distinguishing number or mark by applying before the first day of January of each year, instead of registering each vehicle separately used in their business.
Section 12 provides that the Director of Public Works may grant a dealer’s general certificate (in quadruplicate) if satisfied with the application statements and issues it showing dealer identity and the general distinguishing number/mark.
Section 12 sets the dealer registration fee at twenty pesos.
Section 12 provides that vehicles manufactured, owned, controlled, kept, or handled for sale under the general distinguishing number/mark are deemed registered under that mark, except vehicles for the dealer’s private use, which must be registered separately under Sections 3, 4, 5, and 6.
Section 13 permits duplicate dealer certificates upon proof of loss under like conditions and after payment of like fees as in Section 11, and allows additional duplicate distinguishing numbers/marks upon payment of the fee fixed in Section 11 for each duplicate.

Chauffeur licensing, age limit, and permits

Section 14 requires the Director of Public Works to prepare a free form for chauffeur licensing, on which applicants answer under oath and provide information including true name, address, age, cedula details, and types/styles/makes of motor vehicles they are competent to operate, including form and amount of motive power, and whether sight and hearing are normal.
Section 14 authorizes the Director of Public Works, in his discretion, to require further questions and/or an examination to determine fitness and competency.
Section 14 requires the Director to issue a chauffeur license if the applicant is believed to possess necessary qualifications and knowledge, upon payment of a two pesos fee.
Section 14 provides the chauffeur license validity runs until the first day of January next following or until revoked.
Section 14 mandates that if the Director does not believe the applicant qualified, the license shall not be issued and the applicant’s fee shall be returned.
Section 14 requires every chauffeur/operator license to have a line or signature place, and makes the license ineffective until the licensee writes his usual signature in the place provided.
Section 15 authorizes the Director of Public Works to issue temporary permits for persons learning to operate upon payment of a fee of fifty centavos.
Section 15 limits temporary permits to not longer than three months and prohibits temporary permit holders from operating on public highways unless accompanied as instructor by a person licensed under the Act.
Section 15 makes the instructor liable for violations of the Act and for any injury/damage caused, or on account of, or as a result of operation by the beginner when accompanied by the instructor.
Section 16 requires owners who desire to operate the motor vehicles they registered to obtain operator licenses by making like applications under like conditions and upon payment of a like fee, with issuance of licenses by the Director of Public Works.
Section 17 prohibits issuance of any license (to owners or chauffeurs) to any person under eighteen years of age and prohibits any person under eighteen from operating a motor vehicle on any highway of the Philippine Islands.

Vehicle safety inspections and equipment rules

Section 20 authorizes the Director of Public Works or representatives to examine and inspect motor vehicles to determine whether they are unsafe, improperly equipped, or otherwise unfit due to possible danger.
Section 20 permits refusal to register unsafe vehicles or, if already registered, permits revocation or suspension of registration/operation until defects or dangers are remedied.
Section 20 requires the Director’s action to be communicated in writing to the owner, and if government-owned, to the chief of the bureau/office to which the vehicle belongs.
Section 20 imposes penalties of not less than five pesos nor more than one hundred pesos on:
- any owner or person in control/possession who operates or permits operation after notice,
- and any chauffeur who knowingly operates with suspended or revoked registration.
Section 20 provides that if injury or damage occurs after suspension/revocation due to operation, the owner/person in control is guilty of the offense described in Article five hundred and sixty-eight of the Penal Code and subject to the penalties therein.
Section 29 requires every motor vehicle on a public highway to have adequate and efficient brakes at all times and a horn or other signaling device approved by the Director of Public Works.
Section 30 requires every operator to sound his horn for public safety/traffic and also before coming to crossings or intersections of public highways when necessary for safety.
Section 31 requires timely warning by sounding the horn when meeting or overtaking, with the warning to be sounded at a distance that will be clearly heard but not so close as to startle.
Section 32 requires lighting rules for motor vehicles:
- vehicles of more than three wheels must bear two front lamps (one on each side) lit not later than one-half hour after sunset and until at least one-half hour before sunrise;
- front lights must be visible not less than three hundred feet ahead and must cast white light forward;
- additional lamps are allowed, with specific rules on positioning if one additional lamp is carried (midway between the two required lamps) and both additional lamps must be lit if two are carried.
Section 32 requires a rear lamp system during the same hours: a lamp throwing white light upon the number plate/distinguishing mark and a red light to the rear.
Section 32 prohibits lighting only one of a pair of additional lamps while operating on a public highway.
Section 32 requires motor vehicles with fewer than four wheels, during the lighting hours, to bear a front lamp throwing white light ahead.
Section 32 requires every other vehicle with more than two wheels during the hours to bear lights arranged so they are visible from the front and rear.
Section 33 requires operators to stop immediately on signal (hand signal, or on request/call/cry) from persons riding/driving/leading horses or other animals, remain stationary if traveling the opposite direction, use reasonable caution when traveling the same direction, and if the animal appears badly frightened, cease running until safe to prevent accident and ensure others’ safety and render assistance if requested.
Section 33 requires slowing down and, if necessary for safety, coming to a full stop when approaching/passing a street car or railway car stopping to allow passengers to alight or embark.
Section 33 prohibits maliciously/unreasonably calling upon the operator to stop.

Driving conduct and traffic prohibitions

Section 24 prohibits operating recklessly or at a speed greater than reasonable and proper, considering highway width, traffic, grades, crossings, curvatures, and other conditions, and atmospheric and weather conditions.
Section 24 prohibits operating in a manner that endangers property, safety, rights of any person, or causes excessive/unreasonable damage to the highway.
Section 24 prohibits unreasonably obstructing or impeding the passage/right of travel of any motor vehicle and requires operators not to unreasonably obstruct other vehicles or persons on any highway.
Section 24 imposes penalties for violation: fine of not less than five nor more than fifty pesos, or imprisonment of not more than six months, or both.
Section 25 requires operators to:
- turn to the left when meeting persons/vehicles coming toward him;
- turn to the right when overtaking persons/vehicles going in the same direction,
- unless a different course is required in the interests of safety and security of life, person, or property.
Section 25 requires right turn maneuvering into another highway to place the motor vehicle to the left of the center of the intersection.
Section 26 prohibits operating a motor vehicle on or along a sidewalk, walk, path, alley, or other part of a highway set aside/reserved for pedestrians or foot passengers, punishable by a fine of not more than ten pesos.
Section 27 prohibits operating while under the influence of liquor, punishable by:
- fine of not less than fifty nor more than two hundred and fifty pesos, or
- imprisonment of not less than fifteen days nor more than six months, or both.
Section 28 requires operators in accidents to stop immediately; if requested, to give the operator’s true name/address and the owner’s true name/address, and requires drivers of any other vehicle concerned to do likewise; requests may also be made of witnesses present.
Section 28 imposes penalties for violation: fine of not less than five nor more than two hundred pesos, or imprisonment of not less than five days nor more than three months, or both.
Section 35 requires all motor power to be stopped whenever a motor vehicle is unattended on any highway.
Section 35 prohibits cutting out/disconnecting the “muffler” when a vehicle passes through thickly populated districts/municipality or barrio or through streets of any city, and prohibits unnecessary noises in the described places/times.
Section 36 prohibits emitting smoke in unreasonable or annoying quantities while passing through streets of a city, thickly inhabited portions of a municipality or barrio, or other places where it constitutes a nuisance.
Section 37 prohibits operating, using, playing, tampering, or interfering with a motor vehicle without the owner’s permission, and prohibits a chauffeur from using/operating a vehicle owned by the person who employed the chauffeur without proper authority.
Section 38 prohibits knowingly dropping, placing, scattering, or throwing on a highway tacks, nails, wire, scrap metal, glass, crockery, or any other injurious substance to feet of persons/animals, or to tires of wheels/motor vehicles.
Section 40 punishes certain conduct with a fine of not less than five nor more than two hundred pesos, including:
- refusing to show the operator license/permit upon request by the Director’s authorized agents or a police officer, knowing the requester’s official character; and
- violating any of the listed sections: 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 35, 36, 37, 38, or 39.

Borrowing restrictions and fraud penalties

Section 22 prohibits lending or transferring certificates of registration, number plates, or other marks except upon transfer/change of ownership or possession of the motor vehicle covered by the registration; it also prohibits borrowing, selling, or buying such documents/plates/marks except upon like transfer of ownership/possession.
Section 22 prohibits lending, selling, or giving away any operator license/permit, and prohibits borrowing/buying the same.
Section 22 prohibits using a certificate of registration, number plate, mark, permit, or license for another person or another motor vehicle not owned or not in lawful possession of the user.
Section 22 penalizes violations and theft of certificates/plates/marks/permits/licenses by a fine of not less than five pesos nor more than two hundred pesos or imprisonment of not less than one nor more than six months.
Section 23 imposes the same penalty range as in Section 22 for:
- using a number plate/mark not issued under authority of the Act,
- affixing an unauthorized plate/mark for use as a lawfully issued one,
- or using a lawfully issued plate/mark on another vehicle.
Section 39 empowers the Director of Public Works to prohibit sale in or importation into the Philippine Islands of tire styles/makes that tend to seriously cut up or otherwise injure/damage public highways.
Section 39 requires the Director, within thirty days after publication of the law, to send dealers a list/description of prohibited tire types/kinds and requires ongoing publication of prohibited types/kinds.
Section 39 makes a dealer who sells prohibited tires after receiving notice guilty of a misdemeanor and subject to punishment under Section 40.
Section 39 makes every owner/dealer using or permitting use of prohibited tires guilty of a misdemeanor subject to punishment under Section 40.
Section 48 punishes fraud and forgery involving licenses/permits/certificates and false applications by:
- fine of not less than twenty-five pesos nor more than two hundred pesos or
- imprisonment of not more than two years,
- covering false representation as named person, knowingly using fraudulent licenses, fraudulent making/preparing of licenses/certificates, fraudulently representing revoked/suspended documents as valid, and false statements in applications/registrations.

Dealer/garage records and inspection access

Section 21 requires every dealer in motor vehicles and every garage proprietor to keep, in a book with columns/headings/spaces prescribed by the Director of Public Works, a correct, exact, and legible ink record of every motor vehicle leaving the place of business/garage.
Section 21 requires each record to show:
- exact time of departure and return,
- name of the chauffeur operating it,
- name of the person to whom it is rented, loaned, let, or hired,
- and other information as the Director of Public Works may require.
Section 21 requires the book to be kept in a convenient place in the place of business/garage and made open to examination by the Director or his agents and any police officer of the city/municipality where the garage is situated whenever the garage is not closed.
Section 21 punishes failure to provide such book or keep correct records with a fine of not less than five nor more than one hundred pesos upon conviction.
Section 21 requires that upon a second conviction, the Director of Public Works revoke the offender’s license.
Section 19 prohibits owners, dealers, garage proprietors, and heads of offices from employing any person to operate a motor vehicle unless the person is a licensed chauffeur.
Section 19 imposes penalties for violation: fine not less than five nor more than one hundred pesos upon conviction.
Section 19 further imposes imprisonment of not less than six months nor more than one year in addition to the fine if the convicted person lets/rents motor vehicles to others or the public for hire.

Revocation of licenses after convictions

Section 42 authorizes the Director of Public Works, in his discretion, to revoke the license of an owner or chauffeur upon conviction of offenses described in Sections 22, 26, 27, 28, 32, 33, and 40, and to refuse to issue a new license for a period not exceeding two years.
Section 43 provides that a third conviction of violating any one or more provisions of the Act, or regulations lawfully issued or prescribed by the Director of Public Works, causes the license to be ipso facto revoked, and the person is ineligible to be licensed for two years thereafter in the Philippine Islands.

Reporting, notices, administrative structure

Section 44 requires clerks of Court of First Instance to certify to the Director of Public Works every conviction for violations of the Act, including the convicted person’s name, residence/address, license or certificate number, date, and brief offense description.
Section 44 also requires certification of judgments for damages/injury against an owner or chauffeur based on the Act’s provisions, whether penal or merely declaratory of the law of the road.
Section 44 requires similar certifications by justices of the peace and municipal judges for convictions/judgments they render.
Section 44 bars fees for certifications.
Section 45 requires weekly public notice by publication in the Official Gazette of certificates, permits, and licenses issued, suspended, or revoked, and of motor vehicles transferred under the Act.
Section 45 requires each weekly public notice to state: owner name/address, certificate/permit/license number, date of issue, number plate numbers (as applicable), date of suspension/revocation and cause, and suspension period if applicable, plus other information aiding enforcement.
Section 46 requires applications, certificates, permits, licenses, transfers, convictions, notifications, suspensions, revocations, and other contemplated records to be arranged/entered/recorded to keep them accessible.
Section 46 authorizes the Director of Public Works to prescribe and provide indexing/file/search and examination systems and reasonable regulations consistent with public availability and secure preservation.
Section 47 authorizes the Director of Public Works to designate district engineers or provincial or municipal treasurers as agents/deputies to assist in implementing the Act.
Section 47 vests designated deputies with all powers of the Director except those contemplated in Sections 8, 29, 39, 40, 42, 45, and 46.
Section 47 authorizes the Director to formulate administrative rules/regulations to govern agents/deputies and give full effect to the Act, subject to approval of the Secretary of Commerce and Police.

Prohibitions on operation by underage and general offenses

Section 17 prohibits operation on highways by persons under eighteen years of age.
Section 41 establishes that conviction of any person for an offense under the Act does not bar prosecution and conviction of other offenses under the Act or elsewhere that may have been committed concurrently.

Policy, authority, appropriations, and effective date

Section 49 creates a permanent reimbursable appropriation of three thousand pesos from funds in the Insular Treasury not otherwise appropriated to carry out the Act.
Section 50 authorizes the Director of Public Works, subject to the Civil Service Act and Rules, to appoint officers/employees and purchase, rent, or acquire supplies, forms, equipment, stationery, books, and other property needed to implement the Act.
Section 51 provides that the Act controls registration and operation/l i censing requirements and the carrying of lights on all vehicles.
Section 51 declares that all conflicting acts/parts of acts and all ordinances, resolutions, regulations, restrictions, or other provisions of any city, municipality, board, authority, or person are superseded and repealed effective upon the Act’s effectivity date.
Section 51 states that registration certificates and licenses issued under the Act authorize operation/use across provinces, cities, and municipalities while not suspended or revoked.
Section 51 prohibits any public authority from exacting or demanding fees beyond those fixed in the Act for operation/use or for the occupation of chauffeur, while keeping lawful taxes on motor vehicles subject to separate payment.
Section 51 authorizes municipal councils to prescribe reasonable regulations not inconsistent with the Act for garages’ conduct/control and for determining where motor vehicles for public hire may occupy while not in use.
Section 53 provides that the Act becomes effective sixty days after its passage.
Act No. 2159 is February 06, 1912, and its title is “AN ACT TO REGULATE MOTOR VEHICLE TRAFFIC IN THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, TO PROVIDE FOR THE REGISTRATION OF MOTOR VEHICLES AND THE LICENSING OF OPERATORS, AND TO REQUIRE ALL VEHICLES ON HIGHWAYS TO CARRY LIGHTS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.”