New bill to favor motorcycle riders

FILE PHOTO: Motorcycle riders take shelter under the beams of one of the MRT train stations still under construction along Commonwealth Ave. —LYN RILLON

A measure that would reduce sanctions against motorcycle riders, who violate a law aimed at curbing crimes committed by bike tandem-riding criminals, is a step closer to getting the final nod at the House of Representatives.

House Bill No. 11113, which would also limit the display of a motorbike’s license plate on the rear, was passed on second reading at Wednesday’s plenary session.

The draft law seeks to amend provisions of Republic Act No. 11235, or the Motorcycle Crime Prevention Act, pertaining to registration requirements and penalties for offenses, making them less “discriminatory” against law-abiding motorbike riders.

Fines on violators would be fixed from P5,000 to P20,000, depending on the gravity of the offense, and jail terms for minor violations would be removed.

HB 11113 is a consolidation of HB 5249 and 9821 filed by Iloilo City Rep. Julienne Baronda and Sorsogon Rep. Wowo Fortes.

Baronda, who sponsored the draft measure at the plenary, said that RA 11235 was enacted in 2019 to prevent crimes committed by motorcycle-riding perpetrators but, “the law seems to be discriminatory against motorcycle riders as the fines and penalties are somewhat too excessive.”