Who’s safe, who’s not in LTO’s ‘no registration, no travel’ policy

AN LTO ENFORCER flags down a pickup without a license plate on Edsa in Cubao, Quezon City, on the first day of the implementation of the agency’s “no plate, no travel” policy. Violators face up to P10,000 in fines on top of the impounding of their vehicles. LEO M. SABANGAN II

Amid the “No Registration, No Travel” policy of the Land Transportation Office (LTO), what vehicles will be apprehended and who are authorized to apprehend?

LTO Chief Alfonso “Aljun” Tan Jr. told INQUIRER.net in a phone interview that all vehicles without registered plates even those with certificate of registration and official receipt of the vehicle would be apprehended.

READ: LTO starts “no registration-no travel” policy April 1

Only those whose registration receipts are still within the seven-day processing and grace period will be spared, Tan said.

The LTO chief urged new vehicle owners who have yet to receive their license plates to ask their dealers to furnish them with proof of registration application.

“We’ve received reports that some dealers have taken months to even start the application process, so this will help the public monitor whether they are getting the services they paid for,” he said.

He said the vehicle owners should also ask their dealers for the Certificate of Stock Reported (CSR), Sales Invoice, Certificate of Insurance Cover, and the Philippine National Police Clearance, since these are the supporting documents needed to start the registration process.

Without these supporting documents, he said that the dealer could not have started the registration process.

Vehicles will be impounded

Tan said LTO enforcers and deputized enforcers like the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA), local government units (LGUs), and the Philippine National Police are authorized to reprimand violators of the policy.

He said apprehend drivers would be given a charge sheet. Their vehicles will be impounded at the National Capital Region (NCR) central offices or in LTO regional offices if apprehended outside Metro Manila.

Under the Administrative Order 2014-01, he said, a penalty of 10,000.00 would be charged against the owner of the unregistered vehicle and P 1,000 against the driver.

READ: LTO to tighten up on unlicensed vehicles

However, if the driver is able to present a Certificate of Registration (CR) and an Official Receipt (OR) of the vehicle to prove that it has been registered, the driver will be fined only P 5,000.00 for failure to attach plates.

Contest if dealers’ fault

Tan urged motorists to contest their apprehension in writing to any LTO branch within five days if they believe that the delay of their license plates is due to the negligence of their dealers.

READ: All vehicle license plates with dealers, agencies say

“If this is proven, we will dismiss their charge,” he said.

According to him, dealers who would be proven negligent in processing their clients’ license plates would be fined with P100,000 for the first offense, P500,000 plus suspension for the second offense, and revocation of franchise of dealership on the third offense.

Not ‘Unconstitutional and Un-Christian’

Tan refuted the statement of MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino that it is unconstitutional to implement LTO ‘no registration, no travel’ policy.

READ: LTO no travel policy ‘un-Christian’ — MMDA chair

“It’s not unconstitutional to implement the law,” he said.

He said that part of the strict implementation of the law is to ensure road safety among motorists.

Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya has backed Tan’s statement, saying the implementation of the policy was lawful.

READ: LTO ‘no registration, no travel’ policy lawful—Abaya

“We are merely applying the law. Unregistered vehicles are prohibited from being driven on roads,” Abaya said in a text message when asked for comments regarding the opposition of some sectors regarding the policy.

“If we don’t, LTO may be sued for not enforcing the law. At the end of the law is for vehicle owners and passengers safety,” Abaya added.

As of posting time, Tan said that there were already vehicles which were apprehended but they have yet to consolidate their report. -Nestor Corrales, IDL