Senator Dick Gordon has assured that Republic Act 11235 or the Motorcycle Crime Prevention Act will protect motorcycle owners too and will not pose a danger to the safety of riders.
Gordon, author and sponsor of the law, allayed fears of motorcycle riders and manufacturers that the use of bigger license plates at the front and back of their bikes could endanger their safety since metal license plates could break apart due to wind drag whenever a motorcycle was traveling fast, increasing the risk of accidents.
“The use of bigger license plates will not endanger the safety of riders.”
“Simula pa lang naman nung ginawa ko yung bill, napagusapan na naman na pwedeng sticker, decal or vinyl ang ilalagay sa harapan ng motorsiklo para hindi makasagabal sa pagliko o pagmani-obra ng motor. Pati yung sa likod, hindi naman ito sobrang laki na maaring ikatumba ng motor. Ang lalakahihan ang font size ng alphanumeric code na mas kakaunti din ang characters para mas madaling matandaan ng publiko,” the seasoned legislator said.
Gordon, who is chairman of the Committee on Justice and Human Rights, pointed out that the new law will also reduce the number of motorbike thefts.
“Proteksyon din itong batas na ito para sa mga motorcycle owners. Dahil pag ninakaw ang motorsiklo mo, ireport mo agad within three days at makikita agad sa 24/7 na Operation Center ng LTO (Land Transportation Office), makakapaglabas agad ang LTO at PNP (Philippine National Police) ng lookout bulletin. Madaling mahahanap ang ninakaw na motor. Pag tinanggalan ng plaka ang nakaw na motor o tinamper ang plaka at ibinyahe, mahuhuli agad,” the veteran lawmaker explained.
Based on records from the PNP-Highway Patrol Group, there were about 150 motorcycles stolen every week in Metro Manila alone or an average of 21 per day in 2017. In different parts of the country, there were 7,517 vehicles stolen, 6,956 were motorcycles.
According to the PNP, 21 motorcycles are stolen every day in Metro Manila.
