Motorcycles are among the most common means of transportation in the Philippines. Compared to cars, they are generally more affordable, easier to maintain, and useful even on rocky terrain. Today, most couriers or delivery riders use motorcycles.
In recent years, however, motorcycles have also been used in criminal acts — including theft and “riding in tandem” shootings. For this reason, the “Motorcycle Crime Prevention Act” was enacted. Among other things, this law requires motorcycles to have bigger, more readable, and color-coded number plates.
What is R.A. 11235?
Republic Act 11235 or the Motorcycle Crime Prevention Act is a law that aims to prevent and penalize the use of motorcycles in committing crimes. Its long title is “An Act Preventing and Penalizing the Use of Motorcycles in the Commission of Crimes by Requiring Bigger, Readable, and Color-Coded Number Plates and Identification Marks, and for Other Purposes.”
Aside from prescribing bigger number plates, the law sets penalties for failing to register or report the sale of motorcycles. It also grants authority for law enforcers to seize motorcycles that don’t have number plates.
Registration of Motorcycles
Section 4 of the law states that motorcycle owners shall register their vehicles with the Land Transportation Office (LTO) within five (5) days from buying or acquiring them. Likewise, they should also immediately report any sale or disposition of their motorcycles to the LTO.
Failure to register a motorcycle within the prescribed period, as well as the failure to report a motorcycle’s sale or disposition, shall subject the owner to a penalty of imprisonment, or a fine between PHP 20,000 and PHP 50,000, or both.
Bigger Number Plates
As written in Section 5 of the law, the LTO shall determine the material, font style, and font size of the bigger, readable, and color-coded number plates for motorcycles. These plates should be readable form the front, back, and side of the motorcycle from a distance of at least 15 meters from the motorcycle.
Furthermore, the LTO shall come up with a color scheme of motorcycle numbers for every region in the country — for quick and easy identification of motorcycles.
Registry of Motorcycles
Meanwhile, Section 6 of the law states that the LTO shall maintain a registry of motorcycles to facilitate information retrieval, especially for law enforcement and official investigation purposes. This registry shall include: (a) name or motorcycle owner; (b) motorcycle owner’s drivers license number; (c) motorcycle owner’s address and contact details; (d) motorcycle identification number; (e) motorcycle plate number; (f) motorcycle body color; and (g) motorcycle brand/make.
Driving Without Number Plates
According to Section 8 of the law, driving without a number plate –or a readable number plate — is prohibited. This action shall sujbect the driver to imprisonment, or a fine between PHP 50,000 and PHP 100,000.
As for the driver’s motorcycle, this will be seized by law enforcers. The owner may redeem his/her motorcycle from the LTO only upon showing proof of ownership, paying the costs of seizure, and complying with a number plate or readable number plate.
Use of Motorcycles in Crimes
Based on Section 10 of the law, if a motorcycle is used in the commission of a crime or in the escape from the scene of a crime — the owner, driver, backrider, or passenger who participated in the crime shall be subject to a penalty of imprisonment, depending on the severity of the crime.
If death or serious physical injuries result from the use of motorcycles in committing a crime, the penalty of reclusion perpetua (which entails imprisonment of at least 20 years and one day to a maximum of 40 years) shall be imposed. Once again, this would depend on the crime committed.
Impounding of Motorcycles
With regard to the impounding of motorcycles used in the commission of crimes, Section 11 of the law states that the Philippine National Police (PNP) shall impound these vehicles as evidence. They shall be placed in a secured impounding center provided by the local government unit (LGU) until the case is terminated.
Unless the court finds that the defendant is not guilty of the offense charged, or that the motorcycle belongs to an innocent third party — it shall be forfeited in favor of the government.
Loss of Number Plates
Section 12 of the law states that if the number plate of a motorcycle has been lost, damaged, or stolen — the motorcycle’s owner should report the incident to the LTO or PNP within 24 hours. In response, the LTO shall issue a certificate of application for a replacement plate, along with authority for the motorcycle owner to use improvised plates until a replacement plate issued.
Failure to report the loss, damages, or theft of a number plate within the prescribed period shall subject the motorcycle owner to a fine between PHP 20,000 and PHP 50,000.
Erasing, Tampering, or Forging Number Plates
Meanwhile, Section 13 of the law declares that erasing, tampering, forging, imitating, covering, or concealing number plates shall be punished by imprisonment, or a fine between PHP 50,000 and PHP 100,000, or both. The same goes for the intentional use of erased, tampered, forged, imitated, covered, or concealed number plates.
Using Stolen Plates
Using a stolen number plate in a motorcycle shall be punishable by imprisonment, or a fine between PHP 50,000 and PHP 100,000, or both — at the discretion of the court, according to Section 14 of the Law.
Latest Updates
Ever since the Motorcycle Crime Prevention Act was enacted in March 2019, it has met various reactions not only from the motorcycle community, but also the LTO itself and several lawmakers (i.e. Senators) as well.
As of February 2024, the Daily Tribune reported that Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa is pushing for the passage of Senate Bill 2555, which amends Republic Act 12235. Proposed amendments include: (a) differentiating cases of new ownership from cases of subsequent sales of motorcycles; (b) installation of RFID stickers at the front of motorcycles instead of decal plates to ensure the safety of riders; (c) adjusting the period within which to report the loss of number plates or RFID stickers; and (d) adjusting the penalties of fines and imprisonment to more “reasonable” amounts and periods.
Final Thoughts
As you can see, the use of motorcycles in the commission of crimes involves serious penalties and consequences. Indeed, these laws may be considered as truly necessary, so that these vehicles would not be used for scrupulous or criminal activities.
For more information about the Motorcycle Crime Prevention Act, including the law’s Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR), please visit the official website of the LTO. You can also follow the agency’s official Facebook page for the latest news and updates about Republic Act 11235.
In the meantime, check out this article for an overview of the country’s traffic rules and regulations.