PNP releases guidelines for back-riding, penalties for violators

The Philippine National Police (PNP) released the guidelines for back-riding among married couples and partners living in the same residence on Friday, the last day for riders to install the required safety barriers.

The following rules are issued by the PNP Directorate for Operations:

•     All drivers and passengers must wear face masks and helmets at all times;
•     Maximum of two persons per motorcycle must be allowed, provided that they are couples living in the same household. Provided further that the valid IDs and related documents shall be presented as proof that said persons are living together, married, and/or in a mutual relationship (common law partner, boyfriend, girlfriend); and
•     A safety barrier/shield whose design is duly-approved by the IATF National Task Force COVID-19 must be placed between the driver and the passenger.

According to PNP Directorate for Operations chief Police Major General Emmanuel Licup, failure to comply with the rules will have corresponding penalties under the following circumstances:

•     For not wearing face masks, helmets, and non-installation of the approved barriers, they would fall under Reckless Driving with penalties ranging from P1,000 to P10,000 depending on the number of the same offense committed;
•     For those who are not authorized to back-ride (those who are not married or living-in partners), the penalty would fall under Overloading of Passengers with a penalty of P1,000;
•     For drivers who are not classified as Authorized Persons Outside Residence  (APOR), the violation would fall under Driving Without a Valid License which has a fine of P3,000; and
•     For other violations, appropriate laws would be used to sanction the violators.

Joint Task Force COVID Shield commander Police Lieutenant General Guillermo Eleazar appealed to the motorcycle riders to follow the guidelines on back-riding.

He said the riders' compliance would be a factor in determining whether the national government would allow more people to back-ride.

“As per the NTF Against COVID-19, limiting the back-riders to married and live-in partners will serve as a test case to observe how motorcycle riders would comply with the rules to prevent COVID-19," Eleazar said.

"The speed of the approval for more people to be allowed in back-riding depends on your compliance with the existing rules so let us just comply,” he added.

Eleazar said all police commanders and operatives from the PNP Highway Patrol Group are instructed to start apprehending violators beginning August 1 using fines ranging from P1,000 to P10,000.—AOL, GMA News