Motorcycle riding is fun and enjoyable, especially when you are riding with your buddies or a riding club. But, there are those who just want to ride at their own pace or schedule and enjoy the open air alone or with a pillion. Some who ride with friends don’t even want to classify themselves as a riding or motorcycle club, but rather just an informal group.
For the rest, they simply ride their motorcycle to get to and from work or as an errand bike, without the complexities of belonging to a motorcycle club or group.
A solon wants to change all that and wants all motorcycle riders and owners, to join a motorcycle riders club that is duly recognized by the Land Transportation Office (LTO).
Marinduque representative, Lord Allan Velasco, recently filed House Bill (HB) 32 or the Motorcycle Safety Riding Act.
If it becomes a law, Section 3 specifically requires ALL motorcycle riders and owners, to join or become a member of an LTO-accredited motorcycle club as a prerequisite to getting a new/renewal of driver’s license, and even renewing his or her motorcycle registration.
“All motorcycle owners and drivers are mandated to join any motorcycle riders club, duly recognized and accredited by the Land Transportation Office (LTO).” It also added that “The LTO shall also require motorcycle owners and drivers to submit a certificate of membership in an accredited and recognized motorcycle riders club as a pre-requisite for the motorcycle registration and approval of a new driver’s license or its renewal.”
Safety riding training by motorcycle riders club
Under Section 5, the accredited motorcycle riders club, in partnership with an accredited riding school or training center, shall conduct and teach its members motorcycle safety and road courtesy training.
“The accredited or recognized motorcycle riders club shall, in partnership with accredited motorcycle safety driving schools and training centers, conduct a mandatory motorcycle safety and road courtesy training for all its members.”
The said training is also a pre-requisite for driver’s license application/renewal and motorcycle registration renewal.
You cannot own or ride a motorcycle if you’re not a motorcycle riders club member
Under Section 8 of HB 32, an individual cannot own or operate a motorcycle if he or she is not an LTO-accredited motorcycle riders club member and has no motorcycle safety and road courtesy certificate.
If HB 32 of Cong. Lord Allan Velasco becomes a law, the penalties for violating the Motorcycle Safety Riding Act range from PHP 10,000 to as much as PHP 100,000 and includes up to 2 years of jail time.
You can read the full text of HB 32 here.
