LTO clarifies: Citation tickets will not be issued to motorists using temporary plates

Local

WITH the implementation of the use of improvised and temporary motor vehicle and motorcycle plates set to start on Sunday, September 1, the Land Transportation Office (LTO) has issued official guidelines to inform the public.

Under the latest memorandum from LTO Chief Assistant Secretary Atty. Vigor Mendoza II, owners of motor vehicles and motorcycles using temporary plates will not be issued with citation tickets.

"Non-issuance of citation ticket unless cited for other violation," read the memorandum.

A traffic enforcer, whether from LTO or other partner agencies, shall take a photo of the official receipt/certificate of registration (OR/CR) and sales invoice of the vehicle or motorcycle.

"The picture shall be endorsed to the Operations Division to verify if the plate was already produced, and if it was, the same shall be located," added the protocol under the memo issued last August 27.

Upon verification, if the subject plate was already delivered to the dealer, a notice to explain shall be issued to the dealer. If proven that such dealer is at fault, appropriate penalties and sanctions shall be imposed.

Likewise, if the dealer can show proof that the plate was already delivered to the owners before being flagged down, a show cause order shall be issued to the owner for violation of failure to attach plates under Section II (e) of JAO 2014-01 and will be penalized with P5,000.

The memo also stipulates that authorization to use improvised plates shall only be signed by the concerned LTO office where the duplicate plate request was processed.

Improvised plates are for motor vehicles and/or motorcycle whose owners were already issued the LTO-issued plates but are awaiting the replacement of their lost, mutilated, or defaced LTO-issued plates. Authorization serves as their proof of document that they requested the replacement of their issued plate from any LTO office.

On July 1, 2024, the LTO issued Memorandum Circular No. VDM-2024-2721 which outlines the guidelines for the use of improvised and temporary motor vehicle/motorcycle plates nationwide.

Under the memorandum, all new four-wheeled motor vehicles can only use temporary plates within a period of 15 days from the issuance of sales invoice. The temporary plate should reflect the assigned conduction sticker number.

The use of temporary plates for motorcycles shall only be allowed for units purchased before January 1, 2023. For new motorcycles or those purchased after the effectivity of the memo, the use of temporary plate shall be valid only within a period of 15 days from the issuance of sales invoice as specified under the memo.(MyTVCebu)