Section 3. Words and Phrases Defined. —
For the purposes of this Act:
"Motor vehicles" are all vehicles using the public highways, if propelled by any power other than muscular power, but excepting road rollers, trolley cars, street sweepers and sprinklers, lawn mowers or vehicles which run only on rails or tracks, tractors, traction engines of all kinds used exclusively for agricultural purposes. Trailers, having any number of wheels, when propelled or intended to be propelled by attachment to a motor vehicle, shall be classified as separate motor vehicles with no power rating.
"Passenger automobiles" include all pneumatic tired motor vehicles of types similar to those usually known under the following terms: touring car, speedster, roadster, cycle car (except motor wheel and similar small outfits which are classified with motorcycles), coupe, landaulet, closed car, limousine, cabriolet, sedan, etc.
Motor vehicles with changed or rebuilt bodies, using a chassis of the usual pneumatic tired passenger automobile type, shall also be classified as passenger automobiles, if their net allowable carrying capacity as determined by the Director of Public Works does not exceed eight passengers and if they are not used primarily for carrying freight or merchandise.
The distinction between "passenger truck" and "passenger automobile" shall be that of common usage. Usually a motor vehicle registered for more than eight passengers would be termed a truck. In case of dispute, the Director of Public Works shall determine the classification to which any special type of motor vehicles belongs.
"Chauffeur" includes every and any licensed operator of a motor vehicle.
"Professional chauffeur" includes every and any chauffeur hired or paid for driving or operating a motor vehicle, whether for private use or for hire to the public.
An owner driving his own car for hire is also a professional chauffeur.
"Operator" includes every person guiding or controlling a motor vehicle along a highway, whether he be or be not licensed to do so.
"Owner" includes, when the context requires it, in addition to the actual legal owner of a motor vehicle, members of the owner's immediate family who are more than eighteen years of age, and also every other person for the time being in legal possession of such motor vehicle and lawfully entitled to give commands and directions with regard to the same, but not a person who has rented or hired such motor vehicle, with its professional chauffeur from a garage or street stand.
The "owner", of publicly owned motor vehicles, is the head of the office or the chief of the bureau to which the said motor vehicle belongs.
"Dealer" includes every person, association, partnership or corporation making, manufacturing, constructing, assembling, or setting up motor vehicles in these Islands for sale; and every such entity acting as agent for the sale of one or more makes, styles, or kinds of motor vehicles, dealing in motor vehicles, keeping the same in stock, or selling same or handling with a view of trading in same.
"Garage" is any building in which two or more motor vehicles, either with or without chauffeurs, are kept ready for hire to the public, with the exception of street stands, public service stations, or other public places designated by proper authority as parking spaces for motor vehicles for hire, while awaiting or soliciting business.
"Gross weight" includes the measured weight of a motor vehicle in running condition, plus the maximum allowable carrying capacity in merchandise, freight or passengers, as determined by the Director of Public Works or his deputies.
For the determination of carrying capacity, the weight of a passenger shall be assumed arbitrarily as fifty kilos exclusive of personal or other baggage.
"Highways" includes every public thoroughfare, every public boulevard, driveway, avenue, park, parkway, plaza, square, place, street, road, alley, and callejon. The term "highway" shall not be deemed to include roadway or driveway upon grounds owned by private persons, colleges, universities or other institutions.
"The Director of Public Works or his deputies" is defined as the actual or acting chief of the Bureau of Public Works or such representatives, deputies, agents, or assistants, as he may, with the approval of the Secretary of Commerce and Communications, authorize or detail in writing for the purposes contemplated by this Act.
"Parking or parked", for the purpose of this Act, a motor vehicle is "parked" if it has been brought to a stop on or at the edge of a highway or public place, and if it remains inactive in that place or close thereto, for an appreciable period. A motor vehicle which stops merely to discharge or to take in a waiting passenger, or to load or unload a small quantity of freight with reasonable dispatch, shall not be considered as "parked", if the motor vehicle again moves away without delay.
"Tourist" includes one who travels from place to place for pleasure or culture, or a person who is sojourning in the Philippines Islands for a short period of time.