DOJ backs harsher penalties for reckless driving

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Justice (DOJ) has supported proposed bills in Congress seeking to impose harsher penalties on the crime of reckless driving.

In a six-page letter to the Senate committee on justice and human rights, Secretary Leila de Lima said the DOJ sees no legal impediment and has no objection to the passage of Senate Bills 169, 484, 956, 1307, 1339, 1988, 2078, 2215 and 2683, or the “Anti-Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol and/or Dangerous Drugs” bills.

De Lima, in response to request for legal opinion by committee chair Sen. Francis Escudero, said she agrees with the proponents that such measure would address “a pressing concern plaguing our roads and highways” and make the country’s roads safer for motorists.

“We find no legal objection or constitutional objection to the proposed legislations which aim generally, to minimize, if not eliminate, the incidents of continuously increasing alcohol-related vehicular accidents often resulting in death and injury to innocent victims,” the DOJ chief said.

“We concur that driving under the influence of alcohol and/or prohibited drugs is a matter of great concern, which must be addressed and combated through stiffer penalties to effectively and efficiently eliminate the problem,” she added.

The bills seek to define as crime the act of driving under the influence of alcohol and dangerous drugs and impose stricter penalties against violators.

The bills aim to address the problem of drunk driving through a comprehensive systems approach, which includes driver education, mandatory alcohol and drug testing of drivers involved in motor accidents, the establishment of drunk driving prevention fund for the purpose of funding the implementation of the proposed legislation, and the conduct of public information campaigns by alcohol beverage manufacturers about drunk driving and its ill effects.

The DOJ has expressed support to the enactment of SB 241, which seeks to define reckless driving as a criminal offense and to provide still penalties for its commission.

The bill also makes the owner or operator of the vehicle driven by the offender as directly and principally liable, together with the offender, for the damage and injury resulting from the incident, as well as for the fines and the award against the offender for civil damages.

“It is worth emphasizing that keeping our roads safe by instilling discipline in motorists is the most effective way of preventing unnecessary injuries and loss of innocent lives caused by reckless driving,” De Lima said.

The DOJ also endorsed the passage into law of SB 2298, which seeks increased penalties for drivers and operators of common carriers such as bus lines, taxicab companies, trains and other motor carriers operating under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

The Justice department is also pushing for the passage of SB 344 which would prohibit unlawful possession of an open alcoholic beverage container and the consumption of any alcoholic beverage by a person in the passenger area of a motor vehicle on a public highway.

De Lima explained that at present only some cities and some first-class municipalities have individual ordinances penalizing drunk driving.

She cited that Republic Act 4136 or the Land Transportation and Traffic Code merely prohibits driving under the influence of alcohol and

narcotic drugs with a very light corresponding penalty despite the great risk it poses to the safety of pedestrians.

Lastly, the DOJ also endorsed the passage of SB 2923, also known as the Road Rage Bill, which seeks to define road rage and prescribe penalties to stop traffic-related killings and to instill discipline, control and restraint in road users.