The Land Transportation Office in Region 7 has started apprehending motor vehicles without plate numbers, and LTO director Arnel Tancinco said any unit sporting unauthorized accessories over and around the plate numbers will also be intercepted.

Tancinco’s directive is in line with the implementation of the Joint Administrative Order number 2014-01, or the revised schedule of fines and penalties for violations of laws, rules and regulations governing land transportation.

Section D of the JAO stated that motor vehicles operating without or with defective/improper/unauthorized accessories, devices, equipment and parts shall be fined P5,000. The motor vehicle shall also be impounded until the accessory, device, equipment or part is properly installed, corrected or removed, and the fines paid.

The improper or unauthorized accessory, device, equipment or part shall be confiscated in favor of the government, the JAO added.

Tancinco said this is one way to force the owner of the vehicle or the dealer of the vehicles to claim their registered plate numbers with them. He said there are more than 4,000 plate numbers that are ready for release.

Tancinco said vehicle owners do not claim the plate numbers because they want the dealers to pay for them.

Payment ranges from P200 to P600 depending on the type of vehicles.

Meanwhile, the Department of Transportation and Communication, through the LTO, temporarily suspended deputizing traffic cops and traffic personnel following the issuance of the JAO on June 17.

LTO and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board enforcement teams were the only authorized enforcers to apprehend traffic and land transportation violations.

LTO has been focusing on enforcing JAO particularly on franchise-related issues to rid the streets of colorum buses and other public utility vehicles.*PNA

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