Simpler but smarter vehicle license plates coming out this week

This week, the government will roll out vehicle license plates that will not just be easier to read but also tougher to clone.

 

The Land Transportation Office's (LTO) new plates will have black-on-white lettering that can be read from a distance, GMA News' Cesar Apolinario reported on "Unang Balita."

 

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

 

"Hindi na nakalagay rito ang mga slogan sa mga administrasyon tulad ng 'Matatag na Republika' (o) 'Philippines 2000.' Ngayon minarapat natin ilagay rito kung saang rehiyon siya galing," Salvador said.

 

Also, he said the black-on-white scheme means the plate numbers can be read from a distance.

 

The new license plates will have three control letters and four digits, compared to the previous generation of plates with three control letters and three digits.

 

On the other hand, an LTO stamp on the plate will make it harder to clone.

 

Salvador said this is part of the "plate standardization program," which he said will make it easier for the public and for law enforcers to tell genuine from fake plates.

 

High-tech measure

 

Another 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.

 

Confusion

 

The new features are expected to address potential confusion stemming from differences in designs of license plates through the years.

 

Richard Ragodon, an antique license plate collector whose items date back to 1921, said changes through the years include colors and designs.

 

"May tendency malito ang mga nakakakita lalo ang medyo malabo ang mata," he said. —Joel Locsin/KG, GMA News