LTO releases 1st batch of new license plates

The Land Transportation Office has released the first batch of new license plates for land vehicles, the Department of Transportation and Communications said Thursday.

 

In posts on its Twitter account, the DOTC said the new smarter license plates are for both four-wheeled motor vehicles and for motorcycles.

 

A photo posted on the DOTC Twitter account showed black lettering over a white background, with three control letters and four numbers.

 

Under the control letters and numbers is an indication of the region where the license plate was issued.

 

The DOTC noted the new plates have security measures to thwart thieves.

 

"The new license plates have security features that prevent removal and tampering, while the new design standardizes the look of all plates," it said.

 

The DOTC said owners of new vehicles registered starting Feb. 17 this year may now get the new license plates.

 

It added the replacement of existing plates will start in the second half of 2014.

 

Earlier, a report on GMA News' Unang Balita said the new plates that will not just be easier to read but also tougher to clone.

 

LTO spokesman Jason Salvador also said the plates will do away with adminstration slogans such as "Matatag na Republika," instead indicating the region where it was issued.

 

A high-tech feature of the new plate is a bar code system that when scanned can indicate the vehicle's chassis and motor numbers, color and make.

 

The new features are expected to address potential confusion stemming from differences in designs of license plates through the years. — Joel Locsin/RSJ, GMA News