New law on larger motorcycle plates draws mixed reactions

Cebuano motorists remain divided over the passage of Republic Act 11235, or the Motorcycle Crime Prevention Act.

Jose (real name withheld), who drives a motorcycle, said it was a matter of compliance.

“The most common complaint is it’s expensive. But if you can afford to buy a motorcycle, what’s a plate number?” he said in Cebuano.

President Rodrigo Duterte signed into law RA 11235 on March 8, which mandates the Land Transportation Office to determine the font style and font size of the bigger, readable and color-coded number plates for motorcycles.

The new law aims “to secure and safeguard its citizenry from crimes committed with the use of motorcycles through bigger, readable and color-coded number plates and identification marks.”

It also states that a person guilty of erasing, tampering, altering, forging, imitating, covering or concealing a number plate will have to pay a fine of up to P100,000.

Jose, however, doubted the new measure’s effectiveness in eliminating motorcycle crimes. He said authorities should instead install more security cameras along roads.

Joseph Macala echoed his sentiment.

“Crime will not go away. If the government comes up with a measure to combat it, criminals will come up with a new modus to continue what they’re doing,” Macala said in Cebuano.