A bill was filed on Monday, March 2, that aims to define road rage as a criminal offense and enforce stricter penalties for aggressive and retaliatory driving.
House Bill No. 8190, also known as the Anti-Road Rage Act introduced by House majority leader Sandro Marcos, defines road rage as “any intentional and aggressive act committed by a driver or occupant arising from a traffic-related incident, carried out to intimidate, threaten, harass, retaliate against, or cause harm to another road user, and creating a clear and present danger to life, limb or property.”
Someone who is found guilty of committing road rage without causing damage, injury, or death can face up to one year in prison and a P100,000 fine. If the road rage event results in property damage or physical injury, the offender can face up to four years and a P200,000 fine.
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If the resulting scenario involves two or more physical injuries, serious physical injury, or death, the offense escalates to an intentional felony. This means the maximum period of the applicable penalty under the Revised Penal Code will be imposed, depending on the severity of the crime, along with a penalty of up to P500,000.
Aggravating circumstances under the bill include brandishing or using a firearm (or an object made to look like a firearm), other deadly weapons, and cases that involve victims who are minors, pregnant women, senior citizens, or PWDs.
While the investigation is ongoing, the driver’s license of the accused motorist will be immediately suspended, and depending on the final determination, revoked.
So don’t let your anger get the best of you while driving. Aside from endangering innocent passengers and pedestrians, the penalties just aren’t worth making your point.
