TO AVOID abuse on the use of commemorative plates, the La Trinidad Municipal Council wants a strict implementation of the regulations governing the use of these stickers.

Claiming the use of commemorative stickers is abused and is sometimes used to cover up irregular acts, municipal officials asked the Land Transportation Office (LTO) to spare no one in enforcing the rules covering the use and issuance of the stickers.

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In a resolution, the council said the issuance of the special vehicle stickers should be regulated and that the use should be based on the guidelines issued by the LTO to prevent abusive motorists from using these to commit illicit activities.

"(The) unauthorized use of commemorative plates is not only creating intimidation to the public, but may cause confusion to government enforcement personnel in the implementation of their duties. These unauthorized plates may be used by criminal elements to cover their criminal acts," the resolution, authored by Councilor Thomas Chamos, said.

Also, the council alleged that vehicles with unauthorized commemorative plates are spared from apprehension.

"It (is) observed that users of the unauthorized commemorative plates seem (to be) untouchables because authorities bother no time to apprehend and confiscate their illegal plates," added the resolution.

La Trinidad Police Chief Mario Mayames Jr., meanwhile, said that in the implementation of traffic laws, vehicles with commemorative plates are no exceptions.

Although the confiscation and dismantling of vehicle plates are tasked with the LTO, Mayames said law enforcers, including the police, do remind motorists to abide by the regulations governing their use of the commemorative plates.

"And if they violate traffic rules and regulations, they are apprehended. They are not exempt even if their vehicles bear commemorative stickers," he added.

The LTO provides, among others, that commemorative plates should be used together with the regular plate of a vehicle. The name, logo of the organization and the event being celebrated, including the ending date must also be indicated in the sticker. (JC)

(November 23, 2008 issue)
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