QC council: Plate number vests a must for bikers

MANILA, Philippines - The Quezon City council has approved a measure requiring all persons riding motorcycles going through the city’s roads to wear vests or any kind of sleeved clothing with the printed plate number of the motorcycles they are riding.

“There is an imperative need for the visible display of motorcycle’s plate number which can immediately be verified with the Land Transportation Office in case of involvement in criminal activity or vehicular accident,” read the measure approved on third and final reading on Monday.

Second district Councilor Ranulfo Ludovica, principal author of the measure, told The STAR that the city will only require vests for motorcycle riders with passengers and not for lone motorcycle riders.

“That was the compromise (with the motorcycle riders’ groups),” he said in Filipino.

Ludovica said they will not prescribe vest specifications to dispel allegations that the city will turn the ordinance into a money-making venture.

“What is important is that they follow the prescribed size of the letters,” he said, noting that each letter or number has to be six inches in height and one inch in width.

The measure has yet to be approved by Mayor Herbert Bautista.

It was passed months after a deadly shooting spree in Fairview in May that left four people dead.

The penalties are as follows: a fine of P1,000 or five hours of community service for the first offense; P2,000 fine or eight hours of community service for the second offense; and P5,000 fine, one year’s imprisonment or both for the third and succeeding offense.