Crackdown vs e-bikes on major roads starts December 1

MANILA, Philippines — The Land Transportation Office (LTO) will start impounding unregistered electric bicycles and electric tricycles operating on national highways beginning Dec. 1, the agency announced during a press briefing yesterday.

Under existing laws, including Section 5A of the Land Transportation Traffic Code (Republic Act 4136), all motor vehicles on public roads must be registered with the LTO. Electric vehicles, including battery-powered e-bikes, hybrid plug-ins and light electric vehicles (LEVs), are considered motor vehicles under this definition.

“Unless expressly repealed or declared inconsistent with the law, this IRR remains valid and enforceable. The LTO’s position that all motor vehicles operating in public highways is also backed up by the legal foundation that is grounded in its mandate under Section 5A of the Land Transportation Traffic Code, or RA 4136, which states that no motor vehicle shall be used or operated on or upon any public highways of the Philippines unless the same is properly registered,” LTO chief Markus Lacanilao said.

The agency stressed that registration is essential for public safety, accountability and roadworthiness. Registered vehicles allow authorities to verify ownership, establish liability in accidents and monitor operator behavior.

Lacanilao noted that unregistered e-bikes on public roads pose safety risks and make enforcement difficult.

“Considering that, at present, e-bikes and e-trikes are not registered with the LTO, there is no way that the government will be able to enforce accountability in case of mishaps or accidents or even crimes committed using these vehicles,” he said.

Lacanilao added, “If the operation of these vehicles will not be regulated, ensuring public safety will be an uphill battle for the government. A registered vehicle allows authorities to verify ownership, establish liability in accident, violation or crime to ensure roadworthiness through inspection and regulate driver and operator behavior. If LEVs are allowed on public highways without registration, LEV operator would fall outside the jurisdiction of transport authorities, compromising the road safety and creating information gaps, a complication that LTO should resolve and avoid at all costs.”

Starting Dec. 1, e-bikes and e-trikes found on national highways will be impounded. Those caught on secondary roads will be given warnings and information on proper routes.

“If you run on a secondary road, you will be informed that it is prohibited to run on a secondary road. But those who run on national highways will be impounded,” Lacanilao said.

The LTO is also preparing to resume registration for certain e-bikes under a previous administrative order, but not all will qualify due to safety concerns. Only vehicles meeting specific safety standards will be allowed for registration, he said.

Senators have expressed support for the LTO’s plan as a road safety measure.

Department of Transportation budget sponsor Sen. JV Ejercito confirmed that authorities aim to apprehend unregistered e-trikes starting Dec. 1, while Sen. Raffy Tulfo advised operators to avoid major roads.

Tulfo added that unlike traditional tricycles, e-trike and e-bike drivers are neither registered with the LTO nor required to hold a license or insurance.

Increasing numbers

Tulfo has expressed concern over the increasing number of e-bikes passing through major thoroughfares, which results in frequent involvement in road accidents.

During the Senate’s plenary deliberations on the proposed 2026 budget of the DOTr on Thursday, the senator asked if the agency has a program to regulate e-bikes.

E-bikes are often used for public transport as a means of livelihood and more often driven along main roads – which poses hazards and possibly endangers lives of e-bike drivers and other motorists, as well as their passengers.

“It is alarming, the number of complaints I receive over e-bikes which are involved in serious road accidents,” Tulfo said in Filipino.

He raised his concern due to the fact that many e-bike riders do not possess driver’s licenses, and when involved in accidents authorities are only limited to impounding their units since no traffic violations or tickets can be levied.

Tulfo clarified that he is not against the use of e-bikes, but in order to safeguard lives on the roads, restrictions must be considered, especially if their use poses imminent harm and danger to other motorists.

“If within a subdivision, why not? But once you mix with regular traffic at major thoroughfares, they should not be there because it would certainly be dangerous for them keeping up with heavy and medium vehicles,” he said.

In addition, Tulfo pointed out that tricycle operators’ and drivers’ associations undergo the tedious process and scrutiny to comply and acquire their licenses, franchises and insurance.

He said aside from the aspect of road safety, he simply wants e-bike users to follow the same road regulations and to ensure fairness.

Tulfo directed the LTO to coordinate immediately with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to inform local governments about banning e-bikes on major roads and to initially inform e-bike operators in their areas so they can be properly regulated.

The DOTr and LTO, in turn, promised to coordinate with the DILG and local governments and to intensify their information campaign starting Dec. 1 to inform e-bike users before official apprehensions begin.

No legal basis

Meanwhile, Bicol Saro party-list Rep. Terry Ridon said yesterday there is absolutely no legal basis for the LTO to impound LEVs, such as e-bikes and e-trikes, which are exclusively for private use.

“The LTO will most certainly assert that the basis for impounding is Section 73 of DOTC-LTO Memorandum Circular 89-105, which mandates the impounding of unregistered vehicles,” Ridon, member of the House committee on transportation, said in a statement.

“However, the Electric Vehicle Industry Development Act (EVIDA Law) clearly provides that LEVs intended for exclusive private use are not required to register with the DOTr and its attached agencies, including the LTO. In other words, the LTO cannot use DOTC-LTO Memorandum Circular 89-105 as the basis for impounding privately used LEVs, because these vehicles are not required to be registered with the LTO in the first place,” he said.

“A memorandum circular cannot override a later, specific national law,” Ridon added.

“EVIDA mandates the creation of segregated lanes for LEVs, or their integration into bicycle lanes, along such routes,” he said.

To be clear, Ridon said that for-hire LEVs should be registered with the DOTr, its attached agencies and the local governments in which these LEVs seek to operate. — Jose Rodel Clapano