To ensure the safety of the riding public, a lawmaker is pushing for the mandatory installation of dashboard cameras, closed-circuit television (CCTV) devices and global positioning system (GPS) on all types of public utility vehicles (PUVs) as a standard safety equipment.
Under House Bill 3341 or the “Public Transport Safety Act of 2019” of Bagong Henerasyon Rep. Bernadette Herrera, all PUVs, transport network vehicle service (TNVS) and other types of public transport vehicles will be required to install security cameras and GPS devices before they are allowed to operate on the road.
Aside from the mandatary installation of security systems, the proposed bill will also require public transport vehicles to keep an archive of video footages for 30 days.
The act stated that footages that will be recorded using the mandated devices, however, will remain secured and confidential from any type of viewing, distribution, publication and personal documentation.
In her explanatory note, Herrera said that there are far too many incidents of crimes involving PUVs.
“Almost daily, we hear of various cases of theft and violent robberies in jeeps, buses, and taxis alike. Other incidents involve rape and murder of innocent riders, sexual harassment and sexual assault,” she said.
The lawmaker said that it is imperative to impose better measures and standards to ensure the safety of passengers and to improve existing rules for public transport vehicles.
As for penalties, the proposed bill mandates that vehicle owners who will fail to install a GPS device will be fined P5,000 for the first offense, P10,000 for the second offense, P15,000 and the suspension of driver’s license for 15 days for the third offense.
If a vehicle owner only installed one camera, the driver shall be punished with a fine of P15,000 for the first offense, P30,000 for the second offense and the suspension of the person’s driver’s license for 60 days.
If there are no installed devices, the driver will be fined P50,000 and have their driver’s license suspended for 90 days.
Should anyone install tampered or faulty devices, the motorist will be fined P20,000 for the first offense, P40,000 for the second offense as well as the suspension of his or her driver’s license for up to 30 days.