Children aged 12 and below will be prohibited from taking the front seat and instead should be properly secured in appropriate car seats while traveling in a private motor vehicle starting Tuesday, February 2.
This is in line with the full implementation of the Child Safety in Motor Vehicles Act or the Child Car Seat Law requiring child restraint systems (CRS) or car seats on top of regular seat belts in private vehicles for child passengers who are 12 years old and younger and are shorter than 4’11.
Land Transportation Office (LTO) Law Enforcement Service deputy director Roberto Valera said the CRS are intended to keep a child firmly secured in their seats to save children from injury or possible death in case of sudden braking or road crash.
Under the implementing rules and regulations of the law signed by President Duterte in February last year, violators shall be fined P1,000 for the first offense; P2,000 for the second offense, and P5,000 and suspension of the driver’s license for at least a year for the third and succeeding offenses.
Any manufacturer, distributor, importer, retailer, and seller who are found violating the law will also be punished with a fine of P50,000 to P100,000 for “each and every child restraint system manufactured, distributed, imported and/ or sold”.
While the law will take effect this week, Valera said the enforcement agency will not apprehend or issue tickets to violators for the next three to six months, adding that the LTO will focus on information dissemination. (Alexandria San Juan)
