Day 1 nets 289

At least 289 vehicles were caught at various checkpoints manned by the National Anti-Kidnapping Task Force (NAKTF) and other traffic enforcement agencies during the first day of the "No Plate, No Travel" watch in Metro Manila yesterday.

In a consolidated report reaching the office of NAKTF chief Angelo Reyes, a total of 289 private and public utility vehicles as well as motorcycles were guilty of violating the "no-plate" rule during a drive that started at 8 a.m.

Reyes said nine PUVs were flagged down for using improvised plates, while 28 had no license plates. Eleven were impounded while seven motorists were just given a warning.

There were also 20 private vehicles pulled over for using expired commemorative plates. A total of 12 private vehicles had improvised plates, 42 had no license plates. Thirteen were impounded while 124 motorists were given a warning.

Also caught using improvised license plates were 19 motorcycles. Three were impounded after the owners failed to show valid registration documents.

Traffic Management Group (TMG) director Chief Superintendent Danilo Mangila said the number of apprehensions will likely increase in the next few days as NAKTF, the Land Transportation Office and the PNP-TMG continue their monitoring operation.

Mangila said a total of eight mobile units were deployed in Metro Manila to implement the "no plate, no travel policy." They were joined by personnel deployed by the MMDA, LTO and the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO).

Last Tuesday, Reyes warned motorists that all vehicles found to be violating the "no plate, no travel policy" would be impounded by authorities.

He said all vehicles without license plates and those who do not have the necessary documentation (official receipt and certificate of registration) would be impounded in government-accredited impounding areas.

Amid criticism, Reyes said the implementation of the policy is one of the measures being undertaken by the NAKTF to prevent kidnapping and other criminal activities in the country.

He said vehicles without license plates, those with conduction stickers and vehicles with expired commemorative plates are the primary targets of the "no plate, no travel" policy.

Deputized traffic personnel will not give special treatment to government officials who use personal vehicles without license plates, those with fake plates, and vehicles with illegally transferred plates.

As this developed, officials of the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines Inc. (CAMPI) and the Truck Manufacturers Association (TMA) asked Reyes to extend the validity of conduction stickers until the backlog in the issuance of license plates for newly-registered vehicles is resolved in the LTO.

In a meeting with Reyes, CAMPI and TMA officials said that more than 7,000 new vehicles have applied for registration with the LTO, but have not been issued license plates for more than five months now.

CAMPI and TMA blamed LTO Stradcom for the slow processing of registration documents that are needed for the issuance of license plates.

The MMDA, which said most vehicles were flagged down in Manila and Quezon City, advised erring motorists to show their official receipt certification of registration, sale invoice and delivery receipt.

"Their cars would be impounded if they are unable to produce the said papers and have no license plates. But if they have plates and do not have the papers then we would still impound their vehicles," the MMDA said.

Officials clarified that conduction stickers would not save them from these sanctions because these were only valid for a week.

For mere warnings, the traffic enforcer stamps marks on the documents, giving the car owner or driver 15 days to install a license plate to the vehicle. "If after 15 days they still do not have a license plate, then the next time they are flagged down by a traffic enforcer their vehicle would be impounded." – With Evelyn Macairan