DOTC: Vehicles without license plates to be apprehended starting April 1

By KATHRYN MAE P. TUBADEZA, GMA News

Published March 23, 2015 8:28pm

If you get flagged down for driving a vehicle without license plates on April 1, it won't be an April Fool’s Day prank.

Lawyer Michael Arthur Sagcal, spokesman of the Department of Transportation and Communications, has said the DOTC will strictly implement the "no registration, no travel" policy starting April 1.

"The agency will strictly implement the policy beginning April 1 since the Land Transportation Office is now able to issue license plates to new vehicles within seven days," Sagcal told GMA News Online.

"[The agency] did not implement the rule for a while... and tolerated those new vehicles without plates, because of the shortage of license plates for new vehicles."

Oplan Ligtas Biyahe

According to a GMA News report, President Benigno Aquino III himself ordered the strict implementation of the policy.

Sagcal said the DOTC and other transportation agencies will be assigned to apprehend vehicles that will violate the policy.

Apprehension of new vehicles without license plates will be also be a part of the agency's Oplan Ligtas Biyahe: Kwaresma 2015 that will run from March 27 to April 6.

"Our attached agencies will implement the usual peak season safety measures and increased assistance," Sagcal said.

The "no registration, no travel" policy is for the protection of the public, he said, noting that some of those engaged in crime use vehicles without license plates.

Memorandum

"Starting April 1, 2015, no four-wheeled motor vehicle can be used, driven or operated on the roads without being duly registered with the Land Transportation Office pursuant to Republic Act 4136 (Land Transportation and Traffic Code), Joint Administrative Order No. 2014-01 and other applicable rules and regulations," read Memorandum Circular No. AVT-2015-1927 issued by LTO on March 20.

A vehicle without a license plate shall be stopped and the driver must present the certificate of registration (CR) and official receipt (OR) of the vehicle, according to the memorandum circular signed by LTO chief and DOTC Assistant Secretary Alfonso Tan Jr.

A fine of P5,000 will be imposed for the failure to attach the plates, if a driver is able to present a CR/OR.

Without a CR/OR, a driver must present the following: certificate of stock reported; sales invoice dated within seven days prior to apprehension; and certificate of insurance cover dated on or after date of the sales invoice.

"In the absence of any of the above, the vehicle owner shall be fined the amount of P10,000 for using an unregistered vehicle and the driver shall be fined the amount of P1,000 and cited for reckless driving," it read.

The vehicle will be impounded if at the time of apprehension, the date of the sales of invoice exceeds 37 days from the date of purchase, LTO said.

The apprehensions may be contested within five days therefrom, it added.

Delinquent dealerships

The Land Transportation Office will also bare the names of delinquent dealerships upon receiving reports that the latter deliberately misinform their customers as to the status of their license plate applications.

“The problem is that the delinquent dealers tell their customers that the LTO does not have new plates, when in fact, they’re the ones who aren’t fulfilling their services. They let months pass despite knowing fully well that the plates are ready – and they even mislead their customers about it,” Abaya explained.

“License plates for first-time motor vehicle registrants are available-on-demand. Yet many of these plates remain unclaimed from LTO offices,” Tan said.

The DOTC and the LTO will release the lists of delinquent dealerships in the coming weeks, to better inform the public as to which dealerships actually deliver the services they offer to their customers, and which ones are shortchanging them.

“For owners of new motor vehicles whose dealers tell them that the LTO is not ready with new plates: come to our offices so you can claim them yourselves. Your license plates are ready at your place of registration,” Tan said. —NB/KG, GMA News

Tags: landtransportationoffice, departmentoftransportationandcommunication, licenseplates, vehiclelicenseplate, oplanligtasbiyahe