Two House bills were filed Wednesday prohibiting the use of sirens, bells or any similar gadgets and the issuance of low-numbered protocol or courtesy or vanity plates for high-ranking government officials.

Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez and Abante Mindanao (Abamin) Partylist Rep. Maximo Rodriguez Jr. sought for the immediate passage of the House Bill No. 941 declaring the use or attachments of sirens, bells or any similar devices. Those who will violate will be slapped with six-month imprisonment and will face a fine of no less than P100, 000. Those caught selling or distributing those gadgets without proper authority will face the same penalty.

“It used to be part of a Filipino’s driving experience included being cut off by private vehicles belonging to supposed VIPs using sirens or wang-wangs. These VIPs abuse their power and privilege by driving like they own the roads and violating all sorts of traffic rules,” the bill said.

Exempted from the prohibition are the official vehicles of the President, Vice President, Senate President, Speaker of the House of Representatives and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.

“Such unregulated use of sirens, bells, horns, whistles or similar gadgets that emit exceptionally loud or startling sounds, including dome lights and similar signaling or flashing devices actually impede and confuse traffic, are inconsistent with sound traffic discipline and control on the highways, and in effect constitute a major problem in the maintenance of peace and order,” the bill added.

Rep. Rufus Rodriguez also called for the passage of his House Bill No. 940 banning the issuance and use of low-numbered protocol license plates on vehicles of ranking government officials.