The city council approved the implementation of the “no license plate, no travel policy” in Baguio through Ordinance 107, s. 2021.
The complementary measure serves as basis for enforcement by the city’s traffic staff and personnel sans deputation order from the Land Transportation Office relative to Section 18 of Republic Act 4136 or the Land Transportation and Traffic Code, which requires every motor vehicle to display license plates at all times in conspicuous places, one in front and one in rear thereof.
Implementation of the policy is vital in the promotion and maintenance of peace and order and for the detection and prevention of crime-related incidents which are often committed and carried out conveniently using vehicles without license plates, including intentional removal of plates to evade traffic citations for violation of traffic ordinances.
The ordinance prohibits motor vehicles without license plates attached either in front, rear, or both, or using number plates other than that issued for the vehicle from plying the city roads except when the number plate was detached due to apprehension for traffic violation, and provided the driver must show to the apprehending officer the temporary operator’s permit or traffic citation ticket which shall not be more than 72 hours from apprehension.
In case there are no available LTO license plates, the owner must attach to the vehicle the conduction stickers, motor vehicle file number, or improvised number plate with authority from the LTO.
Government employees and those in the law enforcement using government or private vehicles are not exempted from the ordinance.
Rebuilt or locally assembled vehicles or vehicle unit for dropping with the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board are allowed to travel only for the purpose of registration, inspection and/or obtaining clearances but with the attached notice “For Registration” or “For Dropping” placed in a conspicuous part of the vehicle.
The ordinance imposes a fine of P2,000 for a person driving a motor vehicle without a license plate, conduction sticker, motor vehicle file number or temporary number plate attached in front, rear or both, except for motorcycle which bears the number plate or MV file number at the rear only.
For driving a motor vehicle with different license plate, conduction sticker, MV file number or temporary number plate other than that issued for the vehicle by the LTO, the driver shall be fined P5,000.
During the arrest, enforcer shall confiscate the driver’s license and issue a corresponding TCT stating the violation, name of the driver, place and time of apprehension.
If the driver has no license, the vehicle shall be impounded temporarily until the settlement of all the violations applicable. It shall likewise be subject to impounding fee provided under the city’s Towing Ordinance.
The city council approved Ordinance 109, s. 2021 or the One-Time Amnesty Program for Unpaid Traffic Violations Ordinance for traffic citation tickets issued on or before Dec. 31, 2020.
The ordinance revealed there are still around 2,166 unclaimed confiscated number plates since the implementation of the Operation Anti-Road Obstructions that are stocked up at the Traffic Enforcement Unit of the Baguio City Police Office.
Under the ordinance, within three months upon its approval, owners can claim their confiscated licenses or plates after paying P200 redemption fee.
Both ordinances were submitted to the office of Mayor Benjamin Magalong for signature.
Through Resolution 570, s. 2021, the body has requested the private schools and learning institutions in the city to forego the imposition of surcharges on tuition fee balances of their students for school year 2020-2021.
The appeal is for the parents and individuals who lost their sources of income and financial support for the continuous education of their children caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
The resolution stated some learners and students who transferred to public schools and have outstanding tuition balances are impacted with additional burden by their former private schools imposing surcharges on their tuition and other fee balances.
April 27, 2024
