By RAYMART ESCOPEL
ILOILO City — The Land Transportation Office (LTO) is banning covers and holders that will make vehicle plate numbers difficult to be seen or read.
Department of Transportation and Communications Joint Administrative Order No. 2014–01 banned plate-related accessories.
The fine for violators — those using tinted plate covers and tilted plate holders — was increased to P5,000 from P300, LTO Region 6 Director Dennis Singzon said.
Singzon said vehicle plate numbers should be “conspicuously displayed.”
He stressed that the use of any device that will hinder the visibility of the plate number is punishable with the said fine.
Singzon said the order applies to both public and private vehicles.
LTO enforcers have been dispatched to implement the ban.
The agency also clarified that the ban applies only to new cars using newly released plates.
Meanwhile, Singzon said new generation plate numbers are already available.
A new generation plate number comprises three alphabets and four numbers, with black font and white background.
Current plate numbers comprise three alphabets and three numbers, with green font and white background.
Vehicle owners are required to surrender their old plates before they can be given a new set of plates, according to Singzon.
He advised vehicle owners to coordinate with LTO or their respective dealers in getting their licensed plate numbers.
“We held meetings with district heads and dealers to inform [vehicle] owners that the plates are already available,” Singzon said.
He said they have received a notice from LTO central office that Region 6 will receive more next month in line with the Plate Standardization Program./PN
