Bigger Motorcycle Plates: The Motorcycle Crime Prevention Act

RA 11235 applies to motorcycles, which Section 3(c) defines as powered two- or three-wheeled vehicles, including scooters, mopeds, and motorcycles with sidecars, tricycles or trikes, and including government-owned vehicles. An "owner" includes any person who has actual control and possession of the motorcycle, whether it is registered or not (Section 3(d)).

No. RA 12209 rewrote the first paragraph of Section 5. The LTO issues "a bigger, readable, and color-coded number plate for every motorcycle", with the font style and size set in the implementing rules. The plate must be readable "from the back portion of the motorcycle at a distance of at least fifteen (15) meters", and "The readable number plates must be displayed at the back of a motorcycle".

The 2019 text required plates readable from the front, the back and the side, displayed on both the front and the back. That rule was replaced. The color scheme for every region where a motorcycle is registered was kept from the 2019 text.

Section 14, which was not amended, still bars the import of motorcycles "whose design will impede the placement of the required number plate on the front and back sides". The amended law did not change that sentence.

Section 7, as amended by RA 12209:

• Fine. "The driver of a motorcycle without a number plate or readable number plate shall be punished with a fine of not more than Five thousand pesos (P5,000.00)."
• Seizure. The law says "A motorcycle driver without a number plate or a readable number plate shall be stopped and seized by law enforcers, and immediately surrendered to the Philippine National Police (PNP)", but "no seizure shall be made upon showing proof of ownership and registration and that the owner is not at fault for the non-installation of a number plate or readable plate."
• Redemption. A seized motorcycle may be redeemed from the PNP with clearances from the LTO, upon proof of ownership, payment of the costs of seizure, and compliance with the plate requirement.

The fine and seizure rules are the law's own text. Fines on traffic tickets issued by the LTO or the MMDA under their own schedules are a separate matter and are not covered here.

Section 4, as rewritten by RA 12209:

The law adds that "dealer" includes people in the business of "buy and sell". For dealer sales, there must be a written agreement that the seller keeps ownership but lets the buyer use and possess the motorcycle until full payment. Violations are fined "not more than Five thousand pesos (P5,000)", and "no seizure shall be made solely on the basis of the buyer's failure to comply with the requirements of this section."

As amended by RA 12209:

These sections were not amended. Section 9 punishes the owner, driver, backrider or passenger who took part in a crime using a motorcycle: reclusion temporal to reclusion perpetua for a grave felony, and prision correccional or prision mayor for less grave or light felonies and other crimes. If death or serious physical injuries result, the penalty is reclusion perpetua. Under Section 10, a motorcycle used in a crime is impounded by the PNP until the case ends, and is then forfeited to the government unless the accused is acquitted or the motorcycle belongs to an innocent third party.

Under Section 8, a seized motorcycle must be surrendered within 24 hours to the local impounding center of the local government unit, and an officer who uses an impounded vehicle is liable.

Section 19, as amended by RA 12209, sets a transition:

• owners with plates that do not meet the law "shall renew their registration and apply for the required readable number plate not later than December 31, 2025";
• "The LTO is given until June 30, 2026 to produce, release, and issue the number plates as required by this Act";
• "After June 30, 2026, the penal provisions regarding the use of bigger, readable, and color-coded number plates as required under this Act shall take effect."

Whether the LTO has finished issuing the new plates, and the exact font, size and regional colors set by its implementing rules, could not be read on an official page for this article. For LTO procedures, see our LTO guides and vehicle registration renewal.

These are made-up examples to show how the rules work. They are not advice for any real case.

Joel buys a new scooter from a dealer. Under amended Section 4, the dealer registers it with the LTO within 5 working days from the sale, on Joel's authority.

Kim sells her used motorcycle to Leo. Kim reports the sale to the LTO within 5 working days, and Leo has 20 working days to transfer ownership to his name (amended Section 4).

Marco's back plate is stolen. He reports it to the LTO and the PNP within 72 hours and asks for a replacement (amended Section 11). If he is stopped while waiting and can show proof of ownership and registration, and he is not at fault for the missing plate, the law says the motorcycle shall not be seized (amended Section 7).

Registration and plate replacement are done with the LTO, and the Act does not require a lawyer for them. Talk to a lawyer if your motorcycle was seized and not released, if you are charged with tampering or using a stolen plate, or if a motorcycle you own was used in a crime by someone else. For helmet rules, see No helmet fine. For new cars without plates, see Can I drive a new car without plates?

If you cannot afford a lawyer, see Free legal help in the Philippines.