BY AARON RECUENCO
Police have apprehended a total of 1,350 motorcycle riders during the first day of the strict implementation of rules on motorcycle pillion riding on Saturday, the Joint Task Force COVID Shield disclosed on Sunday.
Based on the data of the JTF COVIDShield, a total of 704 motorcycle riders were apprehended for failure to install barriers while back-riding their spouses or live-in partners — a total of 697 of them were cited for appropriate traffic violations while seven were arrested were taken to the police station.
Police Lt. Gen. Guillermo Lorenzo Eleazar, commander of the JTF COVID Shield, explained that violators being taken to the police stations are due to various reasons that include being disrespectful to the apprehending authorities, or due to existing local ordinances that require violators to be taken to the police stations to arrange for a community service as a penalty.
Back-riding married and living-in partners without the required barrier, not wearing face masks and not wearing helmets fall under Reckless Driving with penalties ranging from P1,000 to P10,000 depending on the number of the same offense committed.
Also, a total of 580 more motorcycle riders were also accosted for failure to comply with the installation of barriers while having a back-rider other than their spouses or live-in partners. Of the figure, 551 were cited for violations while 29 were taken to the police station. (Aaron Recuenco)
