A measure pending at the House of Representatives seeks to make dashboard cameras mandatory in all vehicles.
House Bill No. 6265, or the “Dashboard Camera Act of 2017,” gives vehicle manufacturers six months to ensure that all its models are fitted with dashcams once put on the market.
The Land Transportation Office will likewise reject the registration of vehicles with no dashcams, and public utility vehicle (PUV) operators will not be granted a franchise if they do not comply.
PUVs already in operation prior to the effectivity of the measure should comply with requirements upon renewal of registration, or not later than six months from the issuance of implementing rules and regulations.
The LTFRB will be in charge of maintaining an archive for all recordings from vehicles involved in traffic accidents.
The videos will be confidential, and their use, viewing, disclosure, or publication will not be allowed, except for use as evidence.
Vehicle manufacturers and private owners will be fined PhP100,000 (US$1,948.37) if they fail to install dashcams.
PUV operators who do not comply will meanwhile be fined at least PhP5,000 (US$97.42), with penalties going up to P10,000 and P15,000 for succeeding offenses.
Those who tamper with dashcams or fail to provide videos upon order of the LTFRB will likewise be meted fines.
Licenses or franchises can be revoked for subsequent offenses.
Those who violate the secrecy of the videos, meanwhile, can face imprisonment of one to three years, and a fine of PhP100,000 to PhP2 million (US$38,967.38).
The House committee on Rules transferred the bill to the transportation committee in August.
A similar measure is also pending at the Senate.
Known as the “Dash Cam Law”, Senate Bill No. 1457 mandates the installation of dashcams in all PUVs, government-owned patrol vehicles and similar vehicles used by law enforcement agencies, service vehicles, and others.
Story: ABS-CBN News
