Government Employees Involved in Road Rage Will Be Banned From Service Under This New Bill
In response to several road rage incidents in August.
(SPOT.ph) Viral incidents of road rage have been making headlines over the last month—and now the House of Representatives are moving to prosecute power-tripping motorists, with the most recent suspects involving a Supreme Court employee, a policeman, and a man who falsely claimed to be a military officer in the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
House Bill 8991 or the “Anti-Road Rage Act” was filed by ACT-CIS Representative Erwin Tulfo and four other House member representatives in response to these series of incidents, which will permanently ban any government official or employee who engages in road rage from government service.
The House bill will also allow the government to prosecute suspects of road rage without the victim’s cooperation.
“This authority shall be exercised in cases where victims are unable or unwilling to pursue legal action due to fear, intimidation, or other reasons," it said in Section 6 of House Bill 8991.
It can be recalled that no criminal charges had been filed against Wilfredo Gonzales, the ex-cop who went viral for his confrontation with a cyclist in Quezon City, since the victim was reportedly fearing for his own safety should he pursue a case.
Also read: Recap: That Viral Road Rage Incident With the Gun-Wielding Ex-Cop
What counts as road rage under House Bill 8991?
What counts as road rage in the first place?
Section 3 of House Bill 8991 considers road rage as any of the following:
- Wild gesturing
- Cursing or using bad language
- Any physical attack or an attempt thereof
- Reckless driving
- Any kinds of threat or intimidation
- Any use of force
- Other analogous circumstances
Those found guilty will be penalized with six months to one year of imprisonment with a fine of no less than P50,000. Road rage incidents resulting in physical injury raises this penalty to two to four years of imprisonment with a fine of no less than P100,000.
Driver's licenses of road rage suspects will also be revoked and will not be eligible for renewal in the next five years.
Also read: It's Police Versus "Military Officer" in Another Viral Road Rage Incident