MMDA reports over 50 motorists who covered license plates to LTO

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Monday reported to the Land Transportation Office (LTO) more than 50 motorists who covered their license plates to evade capture under the No Contact Apprehension Policy (NCAP).

MMDA Special Operations Group - Strike Force head Gabriel Go turned over some evidence such as photos to LTO Executive Director Greg Pua to identify the registered owners of the vehicles in question.

“We would like to formally present our complaint, on behalf of our chairman Atty. Don Artes. We already compiled more than 50 na mga litrato kung saan tinatakpan ang mga plaka ng mga sasakyan,” Go said in a press conference.

(We would like to formally present our complaint, on behalf of our chairman Atty. Don Artes. We already compiled more than 50 photos of vehicles with license plates covered.)

Pua said once the registered owners of the vehicles are identified, the LTO will issue a show cause order against them. 

“With these complaints. Rest assured po, mag-i-issue tayo ng show cause order dito po. Malalaman po natin kung sino-sino po ito. We will issue the show cause order and we will  use all reasonable means available para matigil na itong gawain na ito,” he added.

(With these complaints. Rest assured, we will issue a show cause order. We will determine. We will find out who they are. We will issue the show cause order and we will use all reasonable means available to stop this violation.)

The Motorcycle Crime Prevention Act penalizes tampering of license plates with P5,000 fine and up to two years imprisonment.The implementation of NCAP resumed on May 26 after the Supreme Court (SC) partially lifted the temporary restraining order (TRO) against the policy, allowing only the MMDA to implement the program.

NCAP is a policy that uses closed-circuit television, digital cameras and/or other gadgets or technology to capture videos and images to apprehend vehicles violating traffic laws, instead of traffic enforcers on the ground.

Under the policy, violators can pay fines later online or at the MMDA office. They can also contest their supposed violations caught under the NCAP. —RF, GMA Integrated News