SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE- „  
S. No. 
1128
(£f{tr» of lhe,J&rriiet3t|{
•16 SEP-7  
A 9 36
Introduced by Senator Richard “ D ick” J. Gordon
AN ACT
PENALIZING AND PREVENTING THE USE OF MOTORCYCLES OR SCOOTERS IN 
THE COMMISSION OF CRIMES THROUGH THE USE OF BIGGER PLATE 
NUMBERS AND IDENTIFICATION MARKS. REGULATION OF BACKRIDERS AND
FOR OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Police power is one of the inherent powers of the State to make, ordain or 
establish reasonable laws for the good and welfare of the State and its people.1 This 
bill seeks to protect the general public committed by those “riding in tandem", using 
motorcycles to perpetrate crime.
Motorcycles have become crime machines". Reports show that ordinary people, 
media personnel, politicians and even policemen have been killed by persons on board 
a motorcycle and “riding in tandem” to enable their swift getaway 
In 2011 
the 
Philippine National Police (PNP) recorded 1,700 crime incidents involving riding-in- 
tandem suspects with 2,089 victims. 
This figure is higher than the 1,565 recorded 
incidents in 2010, with 1,819 victims.2 
Motorcycle riders in Metro Manila committed 
more than 3,000 crimes in 2013.3
With the decrease in price of motorcycles in the market, this two-wheeled vehicle 
becomes readily available and accessible to criminals or those intending to use it as a 
getaway vehicle. The proliferation of motorcycles in the main thoroughfares has likewise 
worsened and their proper identification is warranted to regulate its use for legitimate 
purposes only.
This bill seeks to deter crimes committed with the use of motorcycles or scooters 
by providing bigger plate numbers and identification marks, and by punishing the 
commission of a crime through or with a backrider on motorcycles and scooters. 
By 
increasing the size and visibility of the motorcycle plates to be able to read the plate 
numbers from a distance of between 12 to 15 meters, w itnesses^nd law enforcement 
agencies are aided in the identification of m o to rcy9 f^/*^e ? ^'"^o  are involved in 
accidents or criminal activities.
“ DICK” J. GORDON
Senator
1 Ermita Malate Hotel v. City Mayor, G.R. L-24693, July 31,1967.
2 Interaksyon. PNP declares all-out war VS criminals riding in tandem on motorbikes. 22 January 2012. <Last accessed 24 
August 2016.>
3 Philippine Daily Inquirer. Riding in Tandem motorcyclists committed over 3,000 crimes in Metro Manila in 2013. 28 January 
2014. <Last accessed 24 August 2016.>


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21 
22
23
24
25
SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
)
of thej!-'fri itl.irjj
•16 SEP-7 A9:36
SENATE 
S. No. 1128
Kl ( M
Introduced by Senator Richard “ D ick” J. Gordon
AN ACT
PENALIZING AND PREVENTING THE USE OF MOTORCYCLES OR SCOOTERS IN 
THE COMMISSION OF CRIMES THROUGH USE OF BIGGER PLATE NUMBERS 
AND IDENTIFICATION MARKS, REGULATION OF BACKRIDERS AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
SECTION 1. Short Title. -  This Act shall be known as the “Motorcycle Crime 
Prevention Act of 2016”.
Sec. 2. State Policy. -  Article II, Section 5 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution 
provides that the maintenance of peace and order, the protection of life, liberty, and 
property, and the promotion of the general welfare are essential for the enjoyment by all 
the people of the blessings of democracy. It is hereby declared the policy of the State 
to secure and safeguard its citizenry from the ruinous and extremely injurious effects of 
crimes and fatal accidents, particularly those caused by motorcycles and scooters.
Sec. 3. Definition. - As used in this Act. the following terms are defined:
(a) "Plate number" refers to the regular motor vehicle license plate issued by 
the Land Transportation Office (LTO) bearing the standard alphanumeric 
characters in accordance with Batas Pambansa Big. 43 and 74.
(b) “Backrider” refers to any person seated at the back of the motorcycle or 
scooter driver, or a passenger of his driver.
(c) “Riding-in-tandem" refers to the combination of a driver and his backrider/s 
or passenger/s riding a motorcycle or scooter.
Sec. 4. Bigger Plate Number. -  The LTO shall issue bigger plate numbers for 
every motorcycle and scooter which must be placed both in the front and rear part of the 
motorcycle. It shall be made of aluminum plate applied with reflectorized paint, and with 
alphanumeric characters in large and readable font. There must be a plate number both 
at the front and back parts of the motorcycle or scooter, the dimensions of which should 
be big enough for the plate numbers to be readable from a distance of between twelve 
(12) to fifteen (15) meters.
The LTO shall devise a color scheme of the plate numbers for every region in the 
country to easily identify where such motorcycle was registered. It shall also devise an
1


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21 
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
alphanumGric systGm, with as fGw charactGrs as possibiG, for Gasicr idGntification and 
rGCollGction by thG ganaral public, whathar day or night.
Tha LTO shall provida avary ragion and all its local govarnmant units a list of all 
tha ragistarad motorcyclas or scootars in its jurisdiction which includas. but ara not 
limitad to tha following information: 
nama of ragistarad ownar, his drivar’s licansa 
numbar, his addrass and contact details, vehicle identification number, plate number, 
body color, brand/maker.
Sec. 5. Driving W ithout a Piate Number or a Bigger Plate Number. -  Driving 
without a plate number or a bigger plate number, as provided in Sec. 4, is prohibited. 
The motorcycle or scooter used without bigger plate numbers shall be confiscated by 
the LTO until a bigger plate is issued.
Sec. 6. Penalty for Use o f the Motorcycle or Scooter in the Commission o f 
a Crime. -  If the motorcycle or scooter is used in the commission of a crime or to 
ensure a quick escape from the scene of the crime, as witnessed by another person, 
and a victim dies as a result of this illegal use of a motorcycle or scooter, the motorcycle 
driver, his backrider/s. if any, and conspirators, shall be punished by reclusion perpetua. 
If the victim suffers serious physical injury, or there was shooting or stabbing of the 
victim committed by the driver or backrider/s of the motorcycle or scooter which did not 
result in death, the penalty shall be reclusion temporal unless a higher penalty is 
imposed due to the commission of some other crime, in which case, the higher penalty 
shall be applied. 
In all other cases, the use of the motorcycle or scooter in the 
commission of a crime shall increase the penalty for the crime by one degree.
If the motorcycle or scooter used in the commission of a crime was stolen, or the 
licensed plate used is mismatched from the vehicle registration of the motorcycle or 
scooter, and the crime results in the death of the victim, the penalty is life imprisonment.
The motorcycle or scooter used in the commission of a crime shall be 
confiscated and forfeited in favor of the Government, unless it be the property of a third 
person not liable for the offense.
The vehicle shall be impounded pending investigation and shall be in custodia 
legis, and no bond shall be admitted for the release of the same until the final decision 
of acquittal is promulgated by the trial court which hears the criminal case involving the 
use of the impounded motorcycle or scooter. 
The motorcycle or scooter shall be 
confiscated and forfeited after conviction in the trial court where the appropriate criminal 
case was filed. 
If there is an acquittal, the vehicle shall be returned to its registered 
owner.
Sec. 7. Penalizing Commission o f a Crime Through or With a Backrider/s on 
M otorcycles o r Scooters. -  Persons committing a crime through or with a backrider/s 
shall be punished with the penalty of life imprisonment.


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21 
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
City or municipal ordinances prohibiting or regulating backriders in motorcycles 
or scooters shall apply in the city or municipality or local government unit where the 
same is prohibited or regulated, provided these are not inconsistent with this law.
Sec. 8. Loss o f Bigger Plate Number. -  If for some reason, the bigger plate 
number of a motorcycle or scooter is lost or stolen, the registered owner of such 
motorcycle, or his authorized representative, must immediately report to the LTO the 
incident within three (3) calendar days from the date of loss, and shall apply for a new 
license plate.
The motorcycle with a lost or stolen plate whose owner has not formally reported 
the loss thereof to the LTO within the time provided in the previous paragraph shall be 
impounded inside the designated impounding areas of the LTO until a new plate is 
issued. The LTO may charge a reasonable daily fee against the registered owner of the 
motorcycle or scooter which has been impounded under this section.
Sec. 9. Implementation. -  The Department of Transportation (DOTr) and LTO 
are mandated to issue pertinent guidelines to implement the provisions of this Act.
Sec. 10. Other Penalties. -
(a) Non-compliance with the use of the bigger plate numbers shall result to the 
revocation of the registration of the motorcycle or scooter for a period of at 
least one (1) year, and confiscation of the driver’s license of the driver thereof, 
or in the absence of the driver, the registered owner thereof for a period of at 
least one (1) year, and a fine of not less than Ten Thousand Pesos 
(PI 0.000.00) but not more than Twenty Thousand Pesos (P20.000.00).
(b) Tampering, alteration, forgery or imitation of the bigger plate number shall be 
punished with a fine of not less than Twenty Thousand Pesos (P20.000.00) 
but not more than Fifty Thousand Pesos (P50.000.00).
(c) If the registered owner of the motorcycle or scooter fails to timely report to the 
LTO the loss of his bigger license plate, he or she shall be punished with a 
fine of not less than Ten Thousand Pesos (P I0.000.00) but not more than 
Twenty Thousand Pesos (P20.000.00).
Sec. 11. Appropriation. — The amount needed for the initial implementation of 
this Act shall be taken from the current fiscal year’s appropriation of the Department of 
Transportation. Thereafter, the amount needed for the operation and maintenance shall 
be included in the General Appropriations Act.
Sec. 12. Repealing Clause. -  All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations or 
other issuances or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby 
repealed or modified accordingly.


2
3
4
5
6 
7
Sec. 13. Separability Clause. -  If any portion or provision of this Act is declared 
unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act or any provision not affected thereby shall 
remain in force and effect.
Sec. 14. Effectivity. -  This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days following 
the completion of its publication either in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of 
general circulation in the Philippines.
Approved,