‘TOL VIEWS
The no more “doble plaka” amendment to Republic Act No. 11235 or the Motorcycle Crime Prevention Act elicited sighs of relief from both motorcycle riders and the Land Transportation Office (LTO). The legislation, which required motorcycle owners to display license plates in front and at the back of their vehicles now only requires plates installed at the rear end.
LTO’s nine million backlog in the production and release of motorcycle plates, along with growing sentiments on riders’ safety, cost reduction, and the rights of motorcycle riders, provided the added push for the revision of RA 11235.
What are the significant results of the amendments to RA 11235? For one, the amendment to the Motorcycle Crime Prevention Act provides greater support to the motorcycle riders community. Motorcycles remain a primary mode of transportation in both urban and rural areas in the country. Hence, the current revision strikes the balance between crime prevention and the rights of motorcycle riders to protect themselves from discrimination and unjust perception.
Riders also argue that the requirement of installing two license plates is both impractical and costly, not to mention the LTO’s failure to produce and distribute the plates. The agency has pledged to address this issue until June 2025, but the more realistic timeline would perhaps be a year more than this pledge or June 2026. The amendment to RA 11235 reduces the costs that riders and the LTO will incur — having only one plate instead of two and the logistical challenge of distributing nine million plates instead of 18 million.
Also one of the revisions made to the Motorcycle Crime Prevention Act is the reduction of penalties imposed on non-compliance. RA 11235 excessively fines motorcycle riders ₱50,000 to ₱100,000 for failure to comply. The revised penalties are significantly lower, fairer, and practical.
Similarly, the required installation of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) was removed in the amended law, hence doing away with added fees and the challenges to LTO’s implementation and monitoring.
The modifications made to RA 11235 are not only just and practical, these likewise advance crime prevention, public safety, cost efficiency, and the rights of the motorcycle riders community. Legislative amendments are from time to time necessary to adapt to our people’s changing needs, to balance rights and public interest, and to promote efficiency in program implementation.