THE Land Transportation Office (LTO) 7 has turned over 10,000 license plates to car dealers in Central Visayas for distribution to car owners.

The car plates covered the vehicles that were registered from July 2016 to February 2017.

LTO 7 Director Victor Caindec said he signed a memorandum of agreement with car dealers. The agreement requires dealers to give to the owners the car plates that were not claimed during the distribution in SM Seaside City. Car owners can claim their plates until Sept. 28.

LTO 7 had 23,625 plates for cars that were registered from July 2016 to February 2017. But only 15,000 car plates were claimed by their owners during the distribution at the SM Seaside earlier this month.

Caindec said that car plates that are not claimed will be returned to the LTO. When a new batch of plates arrives at the LTO, the office will include the unclaimed plates in a new memorandum.

He said that starting Oct. 1, the LTO, the Highway Patrol Group and other agencies will conduct operations against car owners who have yet to show complete documents.

The LTO, Highway Patrol Group and deputized agents will seize vehicles whose owners failed to claim their plates. They will also pay P5,000 in fines. (PAC)