LTO steps up drive against unregistered vehicles

Facade of LTO building in Quezon City. (Photo from LTO website)

MANILA, Philippines — A total of 41 motorcycle riders were apprehended as the Land Transportation Office (LTO) on Monday started the strict implementation of its “no registration, no travel” policy.

All of those apprehended were from Metro Manila, which has the highest number of reportedly delinquent motor vehicles, or those whose owners either failed or deliberately refused to have their vehicles registered for more than a year.

Personnel of the LTO’s Law Enforcement Section have been deployed on Katipunan Avenue, Aurora Boulevard, and other areas where motorcycle riders usually travel.

The apprehended drivers were issued with citation tickets and were fined with P3,000 each.

Under LTO rules, violators of driving without a proper license are also disqualified from acquiring a driver’s license and driving a motor vehicle for a year after the payment of the fine.

All the apprehended motorcycles without registration during the operation were also impounded.

READ: LTO suspends license of motorist seen sideswiping motorcycle on Edsa

Revenue losses

According to LTO data, 24.7 million or 65 percent of the 38.3 million vehicles in the country were considered to be delinquent.

This translated into revenue losses of a whopping P37.10 billion for this year alone. The amount is what these delinquent motor vehicle owners owed the government in terms of registration payment and penalties.

LTO’s eyes are hot on motorcycles as its data reveals 20.15 million motorcycles, or about 81.5 percent of the total number of delinquent vehicles in the country, are not registered.

“There are so many motorcycles on the road that have not been registered for a year to five years,” LTO chief Assistant Secretary Vigor Mendoza II said.

He noted that delinquent motor vehicles either have problems passing roadworthiness inspections that include emission testing or  do not have insurance coverage.

READ: LTO impounds 41 unregistered motorcycles in Metro Manila

Threats

“In other words, these motor vehicles are threats to road safety. We have to be very strict in implementing the laws on land transportation not only to make it fair to the law-abiding motor vehicle owners but also for the welfare of the road users,” Mendoza said.

He added the campaign to have all delinquent motor vehicles registered was in line with the order of Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista to ensure that all motor vehicles pass the roadworthiness inspections, which is a requirement for registration.

“Don’t wait for us to catch you because you will face bigger problems,” he said.