Lawmaker had dialog with LTO on the issue of aftermarket modifications
The issue of aftermarket modifications, particularly exhaust pipes, has once again come under the spotlight as reports surface of motorcycles being subjected to house-to-house inspections and, in many cases, impoundment by authorities because they allegedly exceed the noise levels set under local ordinances and the national law.
Recently, the Land Transportation Office (LTO) clarified that while Private Motor Vehicle Inspection Centers (PMVICs) check vehicles for compliance, passing the inspection does not automatically mean that all installed aftermarket parts are legal. This is especially true when a component has been “modified or replaced with an unapproved aftermarket version.”
Sen. JV Ejercito and Asec. Markus Lacanilao | photo courtesy of Sen. Ejercito FB page
For Senate Deputy Majority Leader Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito, there appears to be a disconnect when aftermarket parts are legally sold, yet consumers are apprehended once they install them on their beloved steeds.
The senator, who is also a motorcycle enthusiast, said he met with LTO Chief, Markus Lacanilao, for a dialogue to raise the concerns of various groups over issues surrounding aftermarket modifications. Ejercito said that riders usually assume that parts legally sold in the market comply with standards.
“Kung legal ang bentahan ng piyesa, natural na ipagpalagay ng rider na pumasa ito sa standards. Nagdudulot ng kalituhan kasi saka lang ito nagiging isyu o sisitahin ng enforcers kapag ginagamit na ng maraming riders. Nakalusot sa merkado pero huhuluhin ang mga bumili?” said Sen. JV, as he is fondly called by riders.
(If a part is legally sold in the market, it’s only natural for riders to assume that it has passed the required standards. It causes confusion because it only becomes an issue or something enforcers flag after many riders are already using it. How did it get into the market, yet those who bought it are the ones being penalized?)
According to Sen. JV, the LTO chief said the agency will prepare a memorandum clarifying how existing regulations should be enforced nationwide.
Ejercito welcomed the LTO’s move, but stressed that the enforcement of regulations should be anchored on clear and measurable standards, such as allowable exhaust noise levels and brightness limits for vehicle lights.
The senator also noted that riders have raised concerns that they appear to be targeted more frequently than four-wheeled vehicles with similar aftermarket modifications, fueling fears of uneven enforcement of the law.
“We support regulations for road safety. But what our riding community is asking is that enforcement be clear and fair for all motorists, whether on two wheels or four wheels,” added Ejercito.
The senator said that he will continue coordinating with government agencies and representatives of the riding community to ensure that policies on vehicle modifications are implemented consistently and fairly across the country.
