LTO to tighten noose on improvised license plates starting Sept. 1

The Land Transportation Office (LTO) will crack down on motorists who use improvised or replica license plates on their vehicles without due authorization starting September 1.

Interviewed on Super Radyo dzBB on Saturday, LTO chief Assistant Secretary Markus Lacanilao warned that the agency will not tolerate such violations on the road.

The crackdown will also include some manufacturers of improvised plates, the LTO chief said, as the agency seeks to put an end to the illegal practice.

"Starting September 1 po kasi, Ma'am Weng, lahat po nu'ng gumagawa ng improvised plate o 'yung mga, alam po ninyo, yung mga replica plate, 'yung eksaktong ginagaya po nila 'yung plaka ng LTO, bawal po iyon," Lacanilao said.

(Starting September 1, all of those making improvised or replica plates that attempt to make exact copies of the LTO plates, this is not allowed.)

As for motorists who use such plates, Lacanilao said, "Huhulihin po namin iyon. Kapag po wala, kailangan po kasi ma'am, kapag kayo ay naka-improvised plates, kailangan may dala-dala kayong authorization. Makukuha po iyon sa LTO."

(We will apprehend them. If a motorist uses an improvised plate on a vehicle, he or she must have authorization. This can be obtained from the LTO.)

Lacanilao's statement comes a week after news broke out that actor-model Derek Ramsay was asked to explain his involvement in an LTO probe involving a Porsche 918 found using an alleged fake license plate.

Last Monday, Ramsay and the car's buyer, businessman Anthony Violago, went to the LTO headquarters in Quezon City to surrender the vehicle.

Based on the LTO's initial findings, Ramsay had allegedly sold the vehicle to the businessman. However, the vehicle had not yet been transferred to the buyer's name, leaving Ramsay as its registered owner in the agency's records.

During the same radio interview, Lacanilao was asked if motorists may avail of improvised plates sold online. He warned: "Ipinagbabawal po iyon. Kukumpiskahin po namin 'yung makikita naming ganoon sa daan (Those are illegal. We will confiscate them if we spot them on the road)."

According to Lacanilao, the risk of allowing unauthorized plates to go unchecked is their potential use in criminal activities.

"Kasi po ma'am, sa totoo lang, aminin na po natin, isang paraan po iyan ng paggamit ng mga kriminal para itago po nila ang mga sasakyan nila at makaikot sila sa mga kalye, kasi mabilis silang, biruin ninyo, eksaktong eksakto, kinokopya nila yung government-issued plate. Bawal na bawal po."

(Let's face it. This is one way for criminals to conceal their vehicles from the law, so they can roam the streets. Imagine, they use plates that look exactly like government-issued plates. Those are illegal.)

Lacanilao said the LTO has asked assistance from the Philippine National Police (PNP) to go after individuals behind the illegal manufacturing operations. Even those offering similar services near LTO sites will be halted, Lacanilao said.

The use of improvised plates without LTO authorization will result in impounding of the vehicle on top of a P5,000-fine.

Fake plates without proper authorization will be confiscated by the LTO.

Lacanilao advised those who lost their license plates to submit an affidavit of loss with the LTO and apply for a replacement of duplicate plate. Should it be approved, the LTO can issue the authorization to use improvised plate.

For Metro Manila motorists, Lacanilao said it would be best to apply with the LTO main office in Quezon City for faster processing as the agency's license plate production facility is located there. — VDV, GMA News