LTO, MMDA to motorists: don’t cover license plates to evade NCAP

EDSA traffic

MANILA: Motorists are warned against tampering of their license plates, saying that they could face both administrative and criminal liabilities.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

  • What Philippine law is violated for cover license plates?

    Covering or tampering license plates is a violation of Republic Act 11235 (Motorcycle Crime Prevention Act).
  • What are the penalties that violators will face for tampering license plates?

    Violators will face a fine not of around P5,000 and/or imprisonment of up to two years.
  • This, as 50 motorists are now the subject of show cause orders after allegedly covering their license plates to evade the re-implemented No-Contact Apprehension Policy.

    LTO x MMDA Photo from Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Facebook page

    Today, (June 2), Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Special Operations Group Head Gabriel Go submitted to the Land Transportation Office pieces of evidence against the motorists who were caught covering the license plates of their motor vehicles.

    Upon receiving the complaints, LTO Executive Director Greg Pua said that the agency will act swiftly on them — adding that they are also intensifying its campaign against similar modus.

    Greg Pua Photo from Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Facebook page

    According to him, such violations are against Republic Act 11235 (Motorcycle Crime Prevention Act).

    “This is very crucial po ito kase last week meron tayong nadiskubre na ginagawa ng mga motorista para makatakas sa NCAP ng MMDA… Nakita natin na pinagyayabang pa po sa social media yung kanilang ways para matakasan ang NCAP (This is very crucial because last week we discovered something that motorists are doing to escape the MMDA's NCAP... We saw them even bragging on social media about their ways to escape the NCAP),” Pua said.

    EDSA traffic Photo by Ruben Manahan IV

    Hindi kayo makatakas sa batas, Makikita at makikita namin kung sino kayo at bukod sa administrative penalty na P5,000, may criminal liability ang erasing, tampering or forging or imitating, covering or concealing a readable number plate na six months and one day to two years (You cannot escape the law. We will know who you are and apart from the administrative penalty of P5,000, erasing, tampering or forging or imitating, covering or concealing a readable number plate carries a criminal liability of six months and one day to two years),” he added.

    Violators mostly motorcycle riders

    According to Go, 90 percent of those who were caught during the last week’s NCAP implementation had their license plates veiled — most were motorcycle riders.

    Gabriel Go Photo from Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Facebook page

    Chairman [Romando> Artes ordered our field personnel to physically apprehend and to issue citation tickets to vehicles with concealed license plates immediately. The MMDA continuously monitors traffic situations using CCTV cameras at our MMDA Communication and Command Center, Go added.

    Further, the LTO is also coordinating with the Anti-Cybercrime Group and other law enforcement agencies to track down those promoting illegal tactics on social media and selling items intended to hide the details on the license plates.

    LTO and MMDA are urging the public to report such infractions so they could act on it.

    Also read:

    LTO imposes 90-day suspension on driver involved in NAIA T1 road crash

    MMDA warns motorists, riders: stay out of EDSA Carousel bus lane

    MMDA to recommend new work schedule for gov't employees

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