Covers sold ‘only to oldies,’ retailers claim

PHOTOS BY TESSA R. SALAZAR

MANILA, Philippines–Like your neighborhood convenience stores selling liquor only to persons aged 18 and above, car accessory shops Inquirer Motoring visited the past few days have been selling controversial license plate covers “only to old vehicles,” as the shops claimed that the new Land Transportation Office ruling allowed for this.

This retail practice, however, seems to run counter to the LTO’s recent pronouncements clarifying the coverage of the ruling. LTO Law Enforcement Division Director Yull Lamping stressed that the ruling against plate covers applies to both old and new motor vehicle plates.

According to a female sales clerk of a car accessory shop in Evangelista Street in Makati, “The restrictions on plate covers only apply to new vehicles and new plates. Car owners with new vehicles no longer come here because they know the new rule.” The attendant refused to be named.

The shops have been selling plexiglass plate covers (in pairs) for P450 to P500, and the stainless spherical acrylic covers go for between P1,300 and P1,500.

Pricier plate covers are mostly made in Taiwan. One high-end cover, described as a deflector plate cover “treated with anti-UV coating,” is claimed to withstand prolonged outdoor exposure. Sellers say it is resistant to heat and ultraviolet rays, and will not warp nor become brittle and cause cracks. It is also claimed to be fade proof or will not oxidize for years.

“We don’t want owners of new vehicles to get into trouble. The penalty is steep at P5,000. And we’ll also get into trouble if the owner of the new vehicle points to us as the ones who sold the product,” another car accessory shopkeeper, who also chose to be unnamed, explained.

A manager of another car accessory shop told Inquirer Motoring: “I read in the Internet about the new ruling. I called our suppliers, and they also explained the difference in the application of the law between the new and old plates.”

Another shop owner claimed that they recently refused two customers who wanted to place protective covers on their brand new vehicles’ license plates.

Confusion on new rulings

Confusion has arisen on the coverage of the new ruling on license plates, with the staff of LTO Assistant Secretary Alfonso V. Tan Jr. asserting on July 8 that the prohibition applies only to new plates. According to them, old plates can have covers as long as they are not tinted, are clear and the plates are visible.

So, who’ll step up to the plate and clear everything up?

“There is nothing in the law that says only new plates will be apprehended. Regardless if the cover is clear, if the plate is far from view, it will be hard to read it. The apprehensions for such violations started June 19,” said a female staff from Lamping’s office. Lamping could not be reached at the time of the interview.

The Automobile Association Philippines on July 4 sent a statement saying that it “supports Joint Administrative Order (JAO) No. 2014-01 of the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) Land Transportation Office (LTO) banning the attachment of covers and holders on motor vehicle license plates. The fine for the violation of JAO No. 2014-01, Section II-e is P5,000 and on-the-spot confiscation of the unauthorized license plate, accessory and/or device in favor of the government.”

Unathorized plates, accessories

Per JAO No. 2014-01, “Failure to attach or improper attachment/tampering of authorized motor vehicle license plates and/or third plate sticker” includes the attachment of any unauthorized plate/s or any accessory or device to and/or around the authorized motor vehicle license plate, or any manner of attachment that impedes in any way the visibility or reflectivity of the authorized motor vehicle license plate and/or the third plate sticker.”

Lamping told AAP in a phone inquiry that the administrative order covers the license plates of all motor vehicles, including motorcycles, whether the license plate is old or new. It covers anything that is attached to the license plate that is not authorized by the LTO, meaning third party accessories which include clear plastic or glass plate covers, tilting plate holders, garnishes, frames or even brackets that in any way cover a part of the plate itself.

AAP president Gus Lagman said that the group also supports the administrative order hiking the fines on land transport violations. He pointed out that the DOTC has the power to establish and prescribe the corresponding rules and regulations for the enforcement of laws governing land transportation services, including the penalties for violations thereof.

“The renewed implementation of this regulation with stiffer fines imposed on violators will deter the covering up or tampering of the license plates of motor vehicles that may be used in the commission of crimes, such as riding-in-tandem shootings,” Lagman noted.

Meanwhile, Lagman voiced concern over the LTO’s delayed release of license plate stickers to AAP members and other motor vehicle owners who registered their vehicles in 2013 and 2014. He observed that the official receipts of the LTO for 2013 and 2014 registrations only bear the stamp “Sticker not available.” Without the stickers, a motorist is subject to apprehension by a traffic officer.