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

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No, 1562

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, 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 leads 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.

ew com,

ERIC OLIVAREZ


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

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

4662
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 5-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 dashcam 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

4


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.