BAGUIO CITY – The Cordillera Office of the Land Transportation Office (LTO-CAR) recently convened the various groups of motorcycle riders in the region and oriented them on the latest issuances on the operation of motorcycles to ensure the safety of the riding public.
LTO-CAR regional director Francis Ray Almora expressed his gratitude to the Cordillera Motor Rider Federation, Inc. led by Robert Macagba, for initiating the gathering for the motorcycle riders to be clarified on the latest issuances governing the operation of the motorcycles.
Under the said issuances, all standard top box sold in the market duly approved by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) are not required to be registered with the agency.
However, he pointed out that customized top box must comply with the parameters, 2 feet by 2 feet by 2 feet dimension, it must not be wider than the handle bar of the motorcycle and not taller than the rider and that registration of the same with the LTO is required.
On light emitting diode (LED) light, Almora explained that motorcycles whose head lamp is stock lamp cannot be replaced with a LED bulb for enhanced illumination, however, riders are allowed to install auxiliary lights to augment brightness and added fog light if necessary.
Further, he asserted that all extra lights that will be installed must have a separate switch to avoid overloading the main switch.
On noise level, Almora revealed that LTO is currently drafting the necessary guidelines that will put an end to the controversy of using after-market pipe and modifications where motorcycles with a power of 400cc and below cannot exceed the 77 decibels noise level while motorcycles with 401cc power and above cannot exceed 115 decibels noise level.
According to him, measuring of noise levels is now available by downloading in the app store using an Android phone but in the meantime, the prevailing law still applies where motorcycles are prohibited to replace their pipes other than the manufacturers specifications.
He claimed that any modification undertaken is meted a fine of P5,000 under Joint Administrative Order No. 2014-01.
On the perceived selected apprehension where small bikes are allegedly being targeted while bike big bikes are not being flagged down, he emphasized that the law is applied to all and that no one is exempted and it just so happened that the number of small motorcycles is far greater than the big bikes and small bike owners are fond of modification to resemble as big bikes.
Almora assured the motorcycle riders of continuing engagement, especially with the issuance of new regulations governing the operation of the same, so that all issues and concerns of the riders will be appropriately given the needed response for them to be clarified on such rules and regulations.
Almora appealed to all motorcycle riders to simply abide by existing rules and regulations to prevent them from being apprehended.
By Hent