Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES)
Constitution Hills, Quezon City

SIXTEENTH (16%) CONGRESS
Third Regular Session

6050

House Bill No.

Introduced by REPRESENTATIVE ERIC L, OLIVAREZ

EXPLANATORY NOTE

According to the data compiled by the Traffic Management
Group of the Philippine Police, causes of road accidents include
failure to yield right of way, reckless overtaking, tailgating,
improper turning and exceeding lawful speed limit causing
various injuries to drivers and pedestrians. A supporting study
by Mendoza (2006)! also revealed that 85 percent of road
accidents in the Philippines were caused by driver error or
violations, determining that the social environment has a role to
play wherein intentions to commit violations were higher when
other drivers were seen to commit violations and when there
were no traffic enforcers around, Alongside the current
transportation safety policies, roadway infrastructure and driver
education programs, innovations in ICT also have the potential
to improve the implementation of traffic regulations and
guarantee road safety for a more inclusively mobile community.

Where rates of road accidents are rampant and where
public transport accounts for 80% of all trips in Metro Manila,

* Mendoza, A. C. (2006, August), Applications of Psychology to the Understanding and
Moclfcation of Read User Behewion Quezon City, Pippines Univery ofthe Pippines National Center
‘Transportation Studies


drivers and passengers of public utility vehicles should be
afforded safety and protection while they are mobile.

A dashboard camera, or a ‘dash cam’ is a device attached
to the vehicle that can monitor and record all of the automobile’s
activities. The installation of dash cams can provide a record of
police behavior during traffic stops, documenting incidents of
road rage and recording events leading up to accidents caused
by drunk drivers, sleepy or wayward drivers for reporting to
insurance companies. They can also record one's driving speed,
road routes, direction, seat belt usage and steering and braking
events. A crash or ‘unusual motion’ of the vehicle can
automatically trigger the camera’s recording function, but the
driver can also manually operate it for the purpose of monitoring
driving performance. Even when the car is parked, a dash cam
can act as surveillance and can record who is responsible for the
damage or an attempted break-in. Incidents of road mishaps and
criminal actions can then be prevented

In the case of California and nominally in Australia, the
legalization of dash cams has lead to an 80 percent reduction in
accidents in cars, Drivers in Russia have also been early
adopters of dashboard camera technologies for self-protection
and have used and uploaded footages online as visual proof and
admissible evidence to fend off charges from possibly-corrupt
police officers and against insurance scammers who often ‘stage’
accidents.

Provided that appropriate restrictions are placed with
regards to the strategic placement of the device system so as not
to obscure driving as well as act in accordance with laws on
electronic surveillance, the installation of dashboard cameras
should be allowed as it affords the right to safety for Filipino
motorists.

enc. ON,

ERIC OLIVAREZ


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Constitution Hills, Quezon City

SIXTEENTH (16%) CONGRESS
Third Regular Session

6080

House Bill No.

Introduced by REPRESENTATIVE ERIC L. OLIVAREZ

AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE MANDATORY INSTALLATION
OF DASHBOARD CAMERAS OR 'DASHCAM' SYSTEMS IN
VEHICLES OPERATED FOR PUBLIC UTILITY

Section 1. Short Title. This Act shall be known as the
"Dashcam Act of 2015."

Section 2. Definition of Terms. For purposes of this Act,
the following terms shall be used under the definition provided
hereof, to wit:

Dashboard camera or dash cam - a camera that is mounted
in or around the dashboard. The camera is easily attached using
a suction cup mount. Powered by batteries, it is hardwired into
the vehicle's 12-volt system or through the cigarette lighter. The
dash cam faithfully records all it sees as the car moves about its
daily business. The dash cam automatically starts when the car
does and records video into removable storage. More complex
versions include global positioning systems that can pinpoint the
location of what has been recorded, monitor speed, time and
date for the recordings. Shock sensors can even tag recordings
upon impact to ensure that data is not overwritten in the event
of a collision. They are sold at P5,000-P15,000.00.


Public Utility Vehicles- busses, trucks and other units used
for public transport such as FX, taxis, multi-cabs, TNCs
(transportation network companies) and TNVs (transportation
network vehicles) used because of its ubiquity, flexibility,
reasonable cost, and traditional and habitual acceptability.

Section 3. Procurement and Installation of Dash
Cams. The installation and use of a dashboard camera system
shall be required for all public utility vehicles. Owners and
operators of taxi franchises, bus lines and other vehicles for
public utility shall be required to procure dashcams and install
these for all its units. The proper placement of a dashboard
camera system shall be ensured that it does not impair the
driver's view of the road and outside the range of airbag
deployment, the ideal location of which is in the windshield.

Section 4, Restrictions in Placement. To ensure reliable
visibility, the dash cam system may be no larger than a S-inch
square area on the driver's side of the windshield, or a 7-inch
square area on the passenger's side windshield.

Section 5. On Privacy and Electronic Surveillance. The
usage of the dash cam as a recording device shall be in
compliance with the provisions of Republic Act 10173 or the
Data Privacy Act of 2012, assuring that the data subject/s need
to consent before the recording and release of information unless
there is a legal obligation that required for it to be kept or
processed. If the public utility vehicle owns a dash cam with a
shock sensor, the recorder may not store more than 30 seconds
of data before and after the event that triggers its recording
function. Provided that proper process was followed, data
obtained through a dash cam is admissible in court.

Section 6. Requirement for LTO Registration.- After the
expiration of a one (1) year grace period required by this Act for
the installation of dashboard camera systems, no bus, taxi, or
any other public utility vehicle for that matter, shall be allowed
registration and renewal of registration by the LTO sans the
GPS.


Section 7. Monitoring. - The LTFRB, LTO and the Metro
Manila Development Authority shall be tasked to conduct
regular ocular inspections after the lapse of one (1) year from the
promulgation of this Act to ensure that all licensed
owners/operators have complied with the requirements of this
Act.

Section 8. Violation of this Act. - Violation of any of the
provisions of this Act shall be meted with a fine of not more
than FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND PESOS (P500,000). against
the proprietor of the business to be imposed by a court of
competent jurisdiction, as the case may be;

Section 9. Repealing Clause.- All laws, presidential
decrees, letters of instructions, executive orders, rules and
regulations insofar as they are inconsistent with this Act, are
hereby repealed or amended as the case may be.

Section 10. Separability Clause. - In the event that any
provision of this Act or any portion thereof is declared
unconstitutional by a competent court, the other provisions shall
not be affected thereby and shall remain valid and enforceable.

Section 11. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect

after its complete publication in at least three (3) newspapers of
general circulation.

APPROVED.