Philippines Lowers Fines for Motorcycle Crime Prevention Act

The Philippines has recently implemented changes to its Motorcycle Crime Prevention Act, resulting in significantly reduced fines for various offenses. President Bongbong Marcos signed the amended legislation, lowering penalties for violations such as driving without a license plate. News5 interviewed motorcycle riders who welcomed the changes, citing the previous fines as excessively burdensome. "We opposed the old law because of safety concerns," explained Ato Sta. Cruz, Director of the Motorcycle Philippines Federation, "but with the large plate on the front, it became a target for thieves." The amendment reduces the fine for driving without a plate from ₱50,000-₱100,000 to just ₱5,000. The penalty for failing to report a lost plate has also been reduced from ₱20,000-₱50,000 to ₱5,000. The LTO has a backlog of millions of plates and has until June 30, 2026, to address this issue. This change is seen as a positive step towards easing the financial burden on riders while maintaining safety and accountability.