'Very funny, stupid,' say bikers on MMDA’s proposal
06/26/2007 | 07:47 PM
Bikers dubbed the Metro Manila Council's proposal requiring motorcycle riders to paint their license plate numbers on helmets as "very funny" and "stupid," adding that the move would not prevent the crime.
Motorcycle riders posted their reactions to the proposal on motorcyclephilippines.com.
One rider proposed that instead of putting the license plates on the helmet, the Land Transportation Office issue four plates to put on the front, rear and both sides of the vehicle.
"Time will come that [police] will be apprehending [riders] because they are using license plates that appear to be ‘helmetnapped,’" another said, referring to stolen helmets.
The Metro Manila Council, the policy-making body of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, passed a resolution last week dubbed the “Dual Motorcycle and Helmet License Plate Numbers Policy."
The MMC came up with the measure supposedly in a bid to curb robberies, assassinations and other crimes committed by motorcycle-riding men.
Under the policy, the license plate numbers on the helmet should be on a water-proof sticker permanently placed on both sides of the headgear and should be large enough to be seen by the public.
The resolution also requires that the license plate sticker should be readable from a distance of 25 meters and should be placed 40 mm high on the helmet.
MMDA Chairman Bayani Fernando said violation of the policy should be treated as a criminal offense, not a traffic violation. Violators will also be slapped with a P3,000 fine.
“[The MMDA] should first check vehicles without plates and plates that are barely visible. They keep on implementing new laws, yet (they don't) apply the basics - really stupid," another rider said.
One said authorities should first go after motorcycles without license plates, adding that most of these vehicles are owned by policemen and other law enforcers.
Another biker said only helmet manufacturers will benefit from the new policy. “What if you only have one helmet and two motorcycles? So you have to buy two helmets? What if your wife rides with you most of the time, then you have to own 4 helmets?" the rider said.
Another said the MMDA should also formulate a policy requiring car owners to paint their license plate numbers in bigger fonts because cars are also used by criminals.
“Panibagong pagkakaperahan na naman ito ng mga traffic enforcers," another said.
The new policy would take into effect 15 days after it is published in at least two newspapers of general circulation.
The resolution adopted MMDA Resolution No. 07-07 passed in February implementing the "No Face Shield" policy for back riders of motorcycles plying main roads and secondary streets.
The policy requires the use of a helmet where the shield for the face is tilted upward so that the face of the back rider would be revealed and identifiable by the public. - Fidel Jimenez, GMANews.TV
Motorcycle riders posted their reactions to the proposal on motorcyclephilippines.com.
One rider proposed that instead of putting the license plates on the helmet, the Land Transportation Office issue four plates to put on the front, rear and both sides of the vehicle.
"Time will come that [police] will be apprehending [riders] because they are using license plates that appear to be ‘helmetnapped,’" another said, referring to stolen helmets.
The Metro Manila Council, the policy-making body of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, passed a resolution last week dubbed the “Dual Motorcycle and Helmet License Plate Numbers Policy."
The MMC came up with the measure supposedly in a bid to curb robberies, assassinations and other crimes committed by motorcycle-riding men.
Under the policy, the license plate numbers on the helmet should be on a water-proof sticker permanently placed on both sides of the headgear and should be large enough to be seen by the public.
The resolution also requires that the license plate sticker should be readable from a distance of 25 meters and should be placed 40 mm high on the helmet.
MMDA Chairman Bayani Fernando said violation of the policy should be treated as a criminal offense, not a traffic violation. Violators will also be slapped with a P3,000 fine.
“[The MMDA] should first check vehicles without plates and plates that are barely visible. They keep on implementing new laws, yet (they don't) apply the basics - really stupid," another rider said.
One said authorities should first go after motorcycles without license plates, adding that most of these vehicles are owned by policemen and other law enforcers.
Another biker said only helmet manufacturers will benefit from the new policy. “What if you only have one helmet and two motorcycles? So you have to buy two helmets? What if your wife rides with you most of the time, then you have to own 4 helmets?" the rider said.
Another said the MMDA should also formulate a policy requiring car owners to paint their license plate numbers in bigger fonts because cars are also used by criminals.
“Panibagong pagkakaperahan na naman ito ng mga traffic enforcers," another said.
The new policy would take into effect 15 days after it is published in at least two newspapers of general circulation.
The resolution adopted MMDA Resolution No. 07-07 passed in February implementing the "No Face Shield" policy for back riders of motorcycles plying main roads and secondary streets.
The policy requires the use of a helmet where the shield for the face is tilted upward so that the face of the back rider would be revealed and identifiable by the public. - Fidel Jimenez, GMANews.TV
