Replace motorcycle front plates with RFID system, reduce penalties for riders, says JV Ejercito
February 28, 2023
Senator Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito urged his
colleagues to consider amending the Republic Act No. 11235, more popularly
known as the Doble Plaka Law.
Ejercito said the Doble Plaka Law has
triggered widespread discrimination against motorcycle riders.
“Naiintindihan po natin ang intensyon ng batas
na mabawasan ang krimen, lalo na ang paglabag ng mga tinatawag na riding in
tandem,” he said.
“Ang hindi po natin masuportahan ay ang naging
epekto nito. Mas lalong lumala ang diskriminasyon sa mga riders. Bilang isang
rider, naiintindihan at nararanasan po natin ‘yan,” he added.
The lawmaker from San Juan explained that
there have been reports of motorcycle riders being made to stay at traffic
checkpoints for an unreasonable amount of time while being inspected by law
enforcers.
He also said the penalties under the Doble
Plaka Law are “excessive” when compared to fines imposed on erring drivers of
four-wheeled vehicles.
“Kaakibat
ng di makataong diskriminasyon sa ating mga motorcycle riders ay ang pagpataw
ng napakataas na fines and penalties .Halos sampung beses ang taas ng penalty
na pwedeng ipataw sa ating motorcycle riders kumpara sa drivers ng four-wheeled
vehicles,” Ejercito said.
“These fines and penalties are somewhat too
excessive to the point of being discriminatory to motorcycle riders. In the
spirit of equity, we would want the fines imposed against motorcycle riders to
be at par with that imposed on those who drive cars,” he added.
Ejercito filed Senate Bill No. 159, which
seeks to replace the mandatory installation of oversized license plates in
front of motorcycles with a radio-frequency identification (RFID) scanner
system.
The measure also aims to reduce the penalties
stated in the Doble Plaka Law and align them with the penalties imposed on
four-wheeled vehicles.
“Sa halip po na front plates o decals, yung
RFID system na ilalagay sa harapan ng motor ay nandun na po ang (necessary)
impormasyon,” he said.
“Hopefully,
with the use of technology sa paggamit ng scanner system at pagtayo ng command
center ay magiging madali na,” he added.
The Senator said the proposed measure aims to
achieve a “win-win” situation for both motorcycle riders and the general
public.
“I am hoping for a win-win situation that is
acceptable to our riders and at the same time, faithful to the intent of the
law, which is to lessen crimes that use motorcycles,” Ejercito said.
