Up to P10,000 fine for motorcycle backriding violations

VIOLATORS of motorcycle backriding rules will be asked to pay a fine of up to P10,000, police said.

Lieutenant General Guillermo Eleazar, Joint Task Force (JTF) Covid Shield commander, said they will impose the same penalties set by the Land Transportation Office (LTO).

• Not wearing face masks, helmets and non-installation of the approved barriers fall under reckless driving with penalties ranging from P1,000 to P10,000 depending on the number of the same offense committed;
• Riders who do not live in the same house will be penalized based on overloading of passengers with a fine of P1,000;
• Drivers who are not classified as authorized persons outside residence (Apor) will be penalized based on the offense driving without a valid license which has a fine of P3,000; and
• For other violations, penalties will be based on appropriate laws.

Authorities started apprehending violators on Saturday, August 1.

The guidelines for pillion riding on motorcycles are the following:

• All drivers and passengers must wear face masks and helmets at all times;
• Maximum of two persons per motorcycle will be allowed, provided that they are couples living in the same household and must present proof such as valid IDs and related documents; and
• A safety barrier/shield with design duly approved by the National Task Force Covid-19 must be placed between the driver and the passenger.

Eleazar said riders who do not intend to carry passengers are not required to install barriers.

"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," he 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.

In areas under general community quarantine (GCQ), public utility vehicles and mass transport systems are allowed to resume limited operations, but with health and safety protocols such as wearing face masks, observing the proper physical distancing and installation of plastic barriers to separate the commuters.

Motorcycle riders were given three weeks to install barriers. (VoxPop Philippines)