ILAGAN CITY, Isabela, Jan 12 (PIA) – The Department of Trade and Industry and Land Transportation Office (LTO) of Isabela will be implementing this week the motorcycle helmet law.

The motorcycle helmet law or Republic Act No. 10054 was signed into law on 23 March 2010 requiringg motorcycle riders, including drivers and back riders, to wear standard protective motorcycle helmets at all times while driving, whether long or short drives, in any type of road and highway.

DTI Isabela consumer welfare chief Henry Conel said that the Import Commodity Clearance (ICC) sticker markings which was offered by the DTI for free will no longer be extended so the motorcycle riders who were not able to avail of it will already pay P100 per helmet.

He said this is to ensure that the helmet that are used by motorists passed the DTI’s standards.

It is observed and noted that most motorcycle accidents and deaths are caused by non-wearing of helmets by motorcycle riders or wearing of sub-standard helmets.

Conel said that there are at least 80 thousand motorcycles registered in the province of Isabela and only 1/3 of these owners have availed of the DTI’s issued ICC stickers.

The agency will also be intensifying the monitoring and enforcement operations with the LTO and will conduct on-the-spot visit to retailer outlets of helmets to ensure that business establishments are selling standards helmets to the public.

The DTI official urged motorcycle who did not yet availed of the ICC stickers to submit their helmet for inspection to DTI-Isabela office to avoid being caught by law enforcers.

Conel said that motorists who are using helmets without ICC stickers and will be apprehended will be fined P1,500 and up.