THE Baguio City Council has approved on third and final reading an ordinance that would restrict cars lacking registration plates from plying the city’s roads.
The ordinance, pending approval from the Office of the City Mayor, prohibits all vehicles without registration plates, save for those whose plates have been taken due to apprehension for traffic violations within the past three days, from travel in the city.
In the absence of a Land Transportation Office (LTO)-issued plate, conduction stickers, motor vehicle (MV) file number, or improvised registration plates must be attached to the vehicle.
Failure to comply with the provisions by not having an appropriate plate or alternative will be grounds for a P2,000 fine.
Meanwhile, penalties for motorists found with registration plates or alternative means of registration other than the one assigned by the LTO to that specific vehicle are heavier, with a fine of P5,000 as well as confiscation of their driver’s license and a traffic citation ticket, or a towing of the vehicle in question if the motorist is unable to provide a license.
The ordinance also stipulates that government employees, even those who are members of law enforcement and the police corps, whether using government or private vehicles, are not exempt.
Rebuilt and locally-assembled vehicles for dropping with the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) are allowed to travel given that they are only traveling for the purposes of registration, inspection, or the acquisition of clearances, and provided that they visibly mark the vehicle as “FOR REGISTRATION” or “FOR DROPPING”.
The ordinance is the first in the city, as failure to attach registration plates is not included in the list of road violations provided for by the Comprehensive Transportation and Traffic Regulations for the City of Baguio.
