Transport office to standardize vehicle license plate

THE government, through the Land Transportation Office (LTO), is set to standardize the design of license plates for all vehicles in the country.

LTO Zamboanga Peninsula Director Aminola Abaton said the rationale of the LTO license plates standardization program is to attain uniformity, making it easier for the law enforcers to identify if the plate number of a particular vehicle is genuine or fake.

Aside from that, Abaton said it would also simplify the procurement and production process of the license plates for vehicles.

The license plate standardization program is being eyed to be implemented next year starting January, Abaton said.

The new proposed license plate will have special features like bar codes, a special bolt and with indicated assigned routes for public utility vehicles, he said.

The bar codes will provide the law enforcers the edge to easily identify the vehicle plate is authentic or fake, Abaton added.

The proliferation of fake vehicle plates has caused the decrease in the number of registration of motor vehicles in some areas of the country, he said.

The old vehicle plates will be replaced upon renewal of registration of the vehicle once the license plate standardization program will be implemented.

The standard license plate will be installed by LTO personnel using the special bolt to prevent its transfer or removal upon renewal of the vehicle registration, Abaton said.

“Once the special bolt is in place you cannot anymore transfer or remove the plate,” Abaton said citing tampering or breaking the special bolt, which could only be secured from LTO, tantamount to violation. (Bong Garcia)