Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
Third Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. _5983

Introduced by Rep. Winston “Winnie” Castelo

EXPLANATORY NOTE

When family members leave their houses and go out into our streets, their lives are at
the mercy of reckless drivers. The government should set out a public policy that
ensures utmost protection to pedestrians and commuters. Due diligence and
circumspection should be exercised by every driver of a motor vehicle. Many tragic
stories have hogged the news about innocent people whose dreams and future have
been senselessly snuffed because of heedless and neglectful drivers. The lack of
severe punishment emboldens unscrupulous drivers even to intentionally run over a
victim believing it would be better to kill the victim than to assist him because the
damages they would be required to pay would be much less than the hospitalization
expenses.

The Revised Penal Code is silent on this pernicious act and jis high time that this
offense constituted a criminal act. Hence, this bill seeks to cpfninalize reckless driving
and prescribe severe penalties therefor in order to curb this sjister offense.

In view of the foregoing, the immediate approval of this bill ig earnestly sought.


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS.
Third Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. _59 8

Introduced by Rep. Winston “Winnie” Castelo

AN ACT
CRIMINALIZING RECKLESS DRIVING AND PROVIDING PENALTIES FOR THE
COMMISSION THEREOF AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Republic of the Phillppines in
Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Title. This Act shall be known as the “Reckless Driving Criminal Act of
2015."

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. The State shall outlaw reckless driving as it poses
imminent threat to life and limb. The State shall ensure the safety of pedestrians at all times
and hence, it is the policy of the State to consider reckless driving as a criminal act and to
prescribe a severe penalty therefor.

SEC. 3. Definition. Any person who is in control of any type of motor vehicle driving on
@ highway, or on private road open to public use, drives the same in a careless, incautious or
heedless manner, or at a wayward speed as to unreasonably imperil or likely to imperil any
Person or property, or who passes when there is proscription against passing, shall be guilty of
reckless driving and upon conviction shall be punished as provided in Section 4 hereof;

SEC. 4. Penalties. Any person found to be guilty of reckless driving shall meted out a
penalty of imprisonment for a minimum of six (6) months to one (1) year and/or a fine of One
Hundred Thousand Pesos (Php100,000.00);

In case the offender's act results in slight physical injuries to any party, the penalty to be
imposed shall be imprisonment of one (1) year plus a fine of Two Hundred Thousand Pesos
(Php200,000.00).

In case the offender's act results in less serious physical injuries to any party, the
penalty to be imposed shall be imprisonment of three (3) years plus a fine of Five Hundred
Thousand Pesos (Php500,000.00).

In case the offender's act results in serious physical injuries to any party, the penalty to
be imposed shall be imprisonment of five (5) years plus a fine of One Million Pesos
(Php? 000,000.00).


In case the offender's act results in death, permanent disability or mutilation of any body
part of any party, the penalty to be imposed shall be imprisonment of ten (10) years plus a fine
of Two Million Pesos (Php2,000,000.00).

When the execution of the act covered by this article results in damage to the property of
another, the offender shall be punished by imprisonment of one (1) to two (2) years and/or a fine
ranging from an amount equal to the value of said property to three times such value, but which
shall in no case be less than One Hundred Thousand Pesos (Php100,000.00).

The trial court shall also award the actual, moral and exemplary damages to the victim/s,
based on the evidence presented and pursuant to existing rules and jurisprudence.

SEC. 5. Direct liability of Operator and/or Owner of the Offending Vehicle. The Owner
and/or Operator of the vehicle driven by the offender shail be directly and principally liable jointly
with the offender for the fine against the offender for civil damages unless he or she is able to
establish that he or she exercised due diligence in the selection and supervision of the offending
driver.

This rule shall apply to the owner/s andlor operator/s of all types of motor vehicles.

In any case, the subsidiary liability of the owner/or operator of the vehicle driven by the
offending driver shall remain.

SEC. 6, Repeat Offenders - In the event a person is found guilty of reckless driving for
two (2) or more times committed within a period of five (5) years, the same shall be a ground for
the permanent revocation of his license by the Land Transportation Office (LTO).

SEC. 7. Separability Clause - If any part, section or provision of this Act shall be held
invalid or unconstitutional, the other provisions not affected by such declaration shall remain in
full force and effect.

SEC. 8. Repealing Clause ~ All laws, acts, decrees, executive orders, rules and
regulations or other issuances or parts thereof, which are inconsistent with this Act, are hereby
modified and repealed.

SEC. 9. Effectivity - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its publication in
the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,