The Department of Trade and Industry in Negros Occidental is reminding motorcycle owners to secure their Import Commodity Clearance stickers before December 31.

The Land Transportation Office will start arresting drvers wearing helmets without the stickers on January 1, 2013, Maximo Ravena, DTI Consumers Welfare and Trade Division chief,yesterday.

Since the implementation of the Motorcycle Helmet Act of 2009 was deferred, Ravena said drivers have become lazy about securing their ICC stickers.

By January, motorcycle drivers caught driving with helmets but without ICC seals will be given tickets and will be penalized, he said.

The law states that the joint administrative order of the Department of Transportation and Communications and DTI requires all motorcycle riders and drivers to wear helmets with ICC and Philippine Standards marks, Ravena said.

He said dealers who do not comply with the order and continue selling helmets without the stickers will be penalized. Buyers must also be reminded to ask for ICC or PS marks from the dealers to make sure of the authenticity of their products, Ravena said.

DTI personnel have to inspect a helmet’s neck curtain, protective padding, comfort padding, retention system or chin strap, chin and cheek padding, edge trim, and the shell, he said.

They will also not approve units with too many stickers, cracks, scratches, and those with dilapidated parts, Ravena added.*LTG

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