NCRPO chief backs implementation of 'doble plaka' law

The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) on Wednesday has expressed support for the implementation of the Motorcycle Crime Prevention Act and urged the public to do the same.

"We agree with the spirit, purpose and end-objective of this Law. We believe that this Law will help decrease crimes committed by motorcycle-riding criminals such as snatchers, holdup men and assassins," NCRPO director Police Major General Guillermo Eleazar said in a statement.

He added that while crimes perpetrated by riding-in-tandem suspects have gone down by 53 percent in Metro Manila from 2017 to 2018, some criminals remain fearless that they continue their illegal activities.

The Republic Act No. 11235 or an Act preventing and penalizing the use of motorcycles in the commission of crimes by requiring bigger, readable and color-coded number plates and identification marks was signed into law by President Rodrigo Duterte on the 8th of March 2019.

In the law, the the Land Transportation Office (LTO) to issue bigger, color-coded license plates to every motorcycle in the country.

The license plates should be readable enough from a distance of at least 15 meters from the motorcycles. A color coded scheme shall also be created for every region to enable efficient tracking of the motorcycles' registration.

Under the law, violators may be fined from P50,000 up to P100,000.

Eleazar also refuted the argument of some motorcycle riders' groups that the law discriminates them as criminals.

"The new Law never generalized that riders are criminals. The Law simply allows for an easier system to catch criminals in motorcycles as these evil people do not wear plates at all," he said.

Eleazar further said that with the new law, setting up police checkpoints would no longer be required to legally flag down and investigate riders without license plates.

On Sunday, thousands of riders joined the National Unity Ride to oppose the law mandating the installation of bigger license plates at the front and back portions of motorcycles.

Some critics said it would pose risks on the safety of riders and pedestrians.

The Land Transportation Office, on the other hand, said that the new license plates will not be made of metal. — BAP, GMA News