MANILA -- The Land Transportation Office (LTO) is set to implement the amendments to the provisions of the Motorcycle Crime Prevention Act, as approved by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., that details safety measures on the operation of motorcycles in the country.

Republic Act 12209, which amends the provisions of the Motorcycle Crime Prevention Act, requires new owners to transfer motorcycle ownership within 20 working days.

But LTO Executive Director Greg Pua Jr. says the seller should inform the LTO of the transfer within 5 days after the transaction. The new owner has 20 days to complete the transfer of registration.

Failure to do so will mean a penalty of P5,000, already reduced from P20,000-P50,000 based on the old law.

Pua also says no seizure can be made solely on the basis of the buyer’s non-compliance with the law’s requirements.

The law also mandates that dealers report all motorcycle repossessions to the LTO and submit an annual status report of repossessed units under their custody.

As the law is prospective, those who sold or acquired second hand motorcycle whose registration has not yet been transferred, Pua said the LTO will issue a memorandum circular or administrative order to adapt to the new law, meaning they will also be obliged to transfer the registration to the current owner.

At the same time, section 5 now requires motorcycles to have larger, readable, and color-coded number plates.

LTO Chief Asec Vigor Mendoza said that the LTO has until June 2026 to complete all plates for motorcycles.

Mendoza said the LTO targets to finish everything by June 2025 but these needs to be distributed to all motorcycle owners, a number of which are already nowhere to be found.

Under the new law, drivers without number plates now face a reduced fine of up to P5,000, instead of the original P50,000–P100,000 or jail time.

The law provides that no seizure will be made if the owner presents proof of registration and is not at fault for the missing or unreadable plate.