By Brian Campued
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has signed a law amending Republic Act (RA) No. 11235 or the Motorcycle Crime Prevention Act to rationalize the safety measures and penalties relative to the operation of motorcycles.
Signed by the President on May 9, RA 12209 notably scraps the double license-plate mandate from the original measure and lowers some penalties and fines relative to the use of motorcycles.
The new law specifically amended Section 5 of RA 11235, requiring the Land Transportation Office (LTO) to issue a “bigger, readable, and color-coded number plate,” which must be displayed only at the back of the motorcycle and readable from a distance of at least 15 meters from the motorcycle.
The punishments were also changed for the dealer, original owner, or the new owner should they fail to comply with the new law—significantly reducing the fine to not more than P5,000 from the previous P20,000 to P50,000 and imprisonment.
The fine for driving without a plate or readable number plate is also reduced to P5,000 from the original P50,000 to P100,000.
Failure to report a lost plate within 72 hours is likewise penalized with a P5,000 fine from the original P20,000 to P50,000.
Erasing, tampering, forging, imitating, covering, or concealing a number plate or readable number plate now results in a six-month to two-year jail time and a P10,000 fine from the previous prision mayor (six to 12 years imprisonment).
Use of a stolen number plate will also result in a fine of not more than P20,000, lower than the original range of P50,000 to P100,000 fine or prision mayor.
Further, the new measure requires dealers to register motorcycles with the LTO not later than five working days from the date of sale upon the owner’s authorization; owners must report a sale or disposition within five working days.
On the other hand, new owners must transfer ownership within 20 working days from acquisition. The LTO is directed to issue registration certificates within two working days upon receiving the complete documentary requirements, including a clearance from the Philippine National Police – Highway Patrol Group.
Meanwhile, motorcycle owners with number plates not in conformity with the provisions of RA 12209 are required to renew their registration and apply for the required readable number plate not later than Dec. 31, 2025.
The LTO is given until June 30, 2026 to produce, release, and issue the required number plates.
“After June 30, 2026, the penal provisions regarding the use of bigger, readable, and color-coded number plates as required under this Act shall take effect,” the law stated.
-iro
