License plate covers and holders banned for both old and new plates-LTO

The Land Transportation Office (LTO) will enforce the administrative order that bans license plate covers, holders, and accessories on both old and new license plates. This was clarified by the Automobile Association Philippines (AAP) in a statement supporting the ban on license plate covers and holders. LTO Law Enforcement Division Director Yull Lamping said that the administrative order covers the license plates of all motor vehicles including motorcycles, whether the license plate is old or new.

 

Here’s more from the AAP:

 

The Automobile Association Philippines (AAP) announced today 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 Php 5,000.00 and on-the-spot confiscation of the unauthorized license plate, accessory and/or device in favor of the government.

 

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.”

 

LTO Law Enforcement Division Director Yull Lamping, upon AAP’s inquiry, told AAP on the telephone 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 was 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.

 

(Editor’s note: There is much confusion on the issue, as an LTO spokesman was quoted as saying that the ruling applies only to the new license plates (see illustration). Motioncars-Inquirer columnist Aida Sevilla-Mendoza points out that the Joint Administrative Order (JAO) doesn’t specify that only new license plates are included. Furthermore, the spokesman is outranked by the LTO Law Enforcement Division Director. Another caveat to motorists is that traffic officers can interpret the JAO as they wish because of these conflicting interpretations. Watch this space for further updates. Meanwhile to avoid being fined P5000, Ms. Sevilla-Mendoza has herself removed her car’s license plate cover.)

 

AAP President Gus Lagman said that AAP 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.