LTO: New plates cannot be enforced until plates are available

LTO will not enforce new plate provision of RA11235 yet

The LTO will not be enforcing the provision for new front and rear plates of RA11235 yet. The agency cited the lack of number plates as the reason.

RA11235, the Motorcycle Crime Prevention Act, also called the Doble Plaka Law by riders, requires motorcycles to fit new number plates both in front and behind of motorcycles. The act was signed into law last year while its Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) were released just recently.

However, because the new plates are not available yet, the specific provision of the law that requires it as well as the hefty penalties for failure to do so will not be enforced for the time being.

The announcement was made during the Laging Handa virtual press briefing held recently. LTO Operations Division Office-in-Charge MJ Paras-Leynes said that this provision under Republic Act No. 11235 will not be implemented until all the plates are available.

“Yung provision patungkol doon sa pagkakaroon ng plaka sa harap at likod ng motorsiklo ay hindi pa maipapatupad dahil wala pa ‘yung plaka. Hindi pa ito ma-iimplement until maibigay natin ang mga plaka. (The provision that requires plates in front and behind a motorcycle cannot be enforced because there are no plats yet. It cannot be enforced until we provide all the plates.),” Leynes explained.

Nonetheless, the agency has already begun producing the plates, which according to the IRR of RA11235, feature a new size and format, to be more easily readable. The new law also prescribes color-coding based on the region the vehicle is registered and its type.

“Nagsisimula nang ma-ideliver yung mga plaka compliant with the RA 11235. Nagsisimula na kaming mag-produce ngayon. (We have started to deliver the plates compliant with RA11235. We’ve started to produce them now.),” she said.

It may be some months until this particular provision is enforced. Currently, the agency is still fulfilling its backlog of plate numbers for four-wheel vehicles dating as far back as 2018.

“Ang target initial delivery is July this year and baka by September, ma-ideliver na lahat ng plaka sa LTO para sa 2018 na mga saskayan. (Our target initial delivery is July this year, and maybe by September, all printed plates for vehicles registered in 2018 will be delivered to the LTO),” the official added.

While this particular provision will not be enforced, other provisions of the law will, Leynes reminded. Beside the new plates, the new law prescribes strict deadlines for new motorcycle registration, and change of ownership, as well as hefty fines for failure to do so.

“Ang importante ay rehistrado ang sasakyan, at dala lagi ang OR/CR (Official Receipt/Certificate of Registration) if ever may katanungan tungkol sa validity ng rehistro. (It is important that the vehicle is registered and for drivers to always carry the OR/CR, if ever there will be questions about the validity of the registration),” she said.