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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Marcos signs law lowering fines under Motorcycle Crime Prevention Act

Marcos signs law lowering fines under Motorcycle Crime Prevention Act

Published May 14, 2025 04:40 pm

At A Glance

  • President Marcos signed a law that amends the safety measures and penalties under the Motorcycle Crime Prevention Act.
  • Under the new law, the fines on certain violations under the law have decreased.
President Marcos has signed a law that amends the safety measures and penalties under the Motorcycle Crime Prevention Act.

(MANILA BULLETIN/ Arnold Quizol)
Marcos signed Republic Act (RA) No. 12209 which amended several sections of RA No. 11235 or the Motorcycle Crime Prevention Act. The law was signed on May 9, 2025. 

Under the new law, the fines on certain violations under the law have decreased.

The new law ordered the Land Transportation Office (LTO) to issue a "bigger, readable, and color-coded number plate for every motorcycle." The font style and size must be readable from the back portion of the motorcycle at a distance of at least 15 meters from the motorcycle.

Unlike RA No. 11235, which ordered the display of number plates in both the front and back of the motorcycle, the new law only ordered the display of the number plate at the back of the motorcycle. 

Under the new law, driving without a number plate or a readable number plate is prohibited. Violators shall be punished with a fine of not more than P5,000. Under RA No. 11235, driving without a number plate or readable number plate shall be punished with a fine of not less than P50,000 but not more than P100,000 or both.

In case the number plate was lost, damaged, or stolen, the owner shall report to the LTO and PNP within 72 hours from discovery, and request a replacement. Failure to do so shall subject the owner to a fine of not more than P5,000. The previous fine was not less than P20,000 but not more than P50,000.

"If the lost, damaged, or stolen number plate or readable number plate is used in connection with an offense penalized under the Revised Penal Code or special penal laws, the failure of the owner to report within three (3) days that the motorcycle is lost, damaged, or stolen, shall subject the owner to a fine of not more than Ten thousand pesos (P10,000.00)," the law stated. 

Previously, the failure of the owner to report within three days the lost, damaged, or stolen number plate shall subject the owner to a penalty of imprisonment of arresto mayor to prision correccional.

Erasing, tampering, altering, forging, imitating, covering, or concealing a number plate or intentionally using tampered number plate shall be punished with imprisonment ranging from six months and one day to two years, or a fine of not more than P10,000 or both. The fine went down from not less than P50,000 but not more than P100,000.

The law also stated that the use of a stolen number plate shall be punished with a fine of not more than P20,000. Previous fines were pegged at  not less than P50,000 but not more than P100,000.

"Motorcycle owners with number plates not in conformity with the provisions of this Act shall renew their registration and apply for the required readable number plate not later than December 31, 2025. The LTO is given until June 30, 2026 to produce, release, and issue the number plates as required by this Act," the law said.

In case of original sale, the dealer shall register the motorcycle with the LTO not later than five working days from the sale. In the event of subsequent sale, the owner who sold shall report the sale to the LTO not later than five working days.

"The new owner shall cause the transfer of ownership of the motorcycle not later than twenty (20) working days from the acquisition of ownership. The LTO, upon the new owner's complete submission of documentary requirements, including the Philippine National Police-Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG) clearance, shall issue the corresponding Certificate of Registration within two (2) working days," the law stated.

"In the case of a sale or disposition of a motorcycle through a dealership, there shall be a written agreement stating that the seller retains ownership but grants the buyer the right to use and possess the motorcycle until full payment of the purchase price," it added. 

Related Tags

President Marcos Motorcycle Crime Prevention Act RA 12209 RA 11235
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